MANCHESTER - A Turkish metropolis is competing with an Austrian city in order to be the venue of an international sports event.
The Turkish metropolis, Istanbul and the Austrian capital, Vienna are competing with each other in order to host the "2012 Short Course Swimming Championships" of International Swimming Federation (FINA).
FINA delegates gathered in the British city of Manchester to select the host city on Saturday.
Turkish State Minister Murat Basesgioglu, accompanied by a crowded delegation, attended the meeting as well.
Delivering a speech at the meeting, Basesgioglu said Turkish people should witness such a sports event in order for swimming to become a popular sports in Turkey.
"We need the impulsive force of world championships in order to reveal the potential in our children and their families. We need heroes for our new generations," Basesgioglu said.
The minister also told AA that hosting such an event would contribute to the improvement of swimming as a sports in Turkey, as well as Turkey's promotion all around the world.
During the meeting, the Turkish delegation made a detailed presentation about Istanbul.
Afterwards, the Austrian capital Vienna was introduced with a presentation.
FINA delegates are expected to announce their decision on the venue of the championship on 3:00 p.m. local time on Saturday.
FINA is the international governing body of swimming, diving, water polo, synchronized swimming and open water swimming.
In January 2008, FINA announced that the Argentine city of Mar Del Plata, the Austrian capital of Vienna, the city of Hong Kong and the Turkish metropolis of Istanbul were the four finalists competing to host the 11th edition of the World Short Course Championships in 2012.
(DO-BRC)