The UK is aiming to host a world class sporting event on average every two weeks in the final 1,000 days before the start of the London Olympic Games and Paralympic Games in 2012.

UK Sport, the agency responsible for bringing world class events to the UK, today announced the list of 64 events which it is targeting for towns and cities across the country before the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympics, and British Swimming is set to play host to five prestigious international sporting events.

Next year will see UK Sport support British Swimming to host the world’s best divers at the FINA Diving World Series which is set to take place on the 23rd – 24th April for the fourth consecutive year.

With the continued support of UK Sport, British Swimming will also hold, throughout 2011, the FINA Diving World Series, the FINA 10km Marathon Swimming World Cup and the LEN Synchronised Swimming Champions Cup and the 2012 the FINA Diving World Cup (all dates to be confirmed).

The 64 event programme covers 30 different Olympic and Paralympic sports and would represent a £32 million pound investment - £11m directly from the UK Sport Lottery Funded World Class Events Programme.

The programme was developed by UK Sport alongside regional partners and the relevant sporting National Governing Bodies.   Of the events listed, 25 are already confirmed, with organisers aiming to agree the remaining 39 in the near future.  2009 has already seen 19 world class events successfully delivered as part of the Programme.

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