Ja’s International Synchronised Swimming Champs, October 7-9

The Second staging of the Jamaica’s International Synchronised Swimming Championship will be held October seven to nine, at the Bournemouth Bath Pools Complex in East Kingston.
Clubs from the United States of America (USA), Panama, Peru, Curacao and Jamaica will be participating in the event.
The competition will consist of Solo, Duet, Trio, Team and Figure competitions in age groups (12 and under, 13 to 15, 16 to 18), Novice and Intermediate categories. Each participating club may enter solos, duets, trios and teams in each category (age groups, novice and intermediate).

Chairman of Synchro Stars (Jamaica), Diahann Campbell (second right), advising members of the Synchro Stars swimming team during the launch of the second Jamaica International Synchronised Swimming Championship 2010, at the Knutsford Court Hotel, New Kingston, on August 31. The event will be held October 7 to 9.

Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, Hon. Olivia Grange, said that the Ministry is actively pursuing a strategy aimed at creating opportunities for everyone to succeed in sports, including non-traditional sports.
“Therefore we are giving strategic support to disciplines such as synchronised swimming and, indeed, to all the aquatic sports, as part of our development programmed,” the Minister said in a message read by Director of the Ministry’s Communications Division, Oliver Watt, at the launch at the Knutsford Court Hotel, New Kingston, on Tuesday (August 31).
The Minister said that, based on the level of commitment and participation, she is confident that Jamaica will be able to participate in aquatic events at the next Youth Olympics in Beijing, China in 2014.
Chairman, Synchro Stars (Jamaica), Diahann Campbell, said the championship came out of a desire for an economical way to expose, challenge and test the skills of synchronised swimming athletes, against their counterparts in the Caribbean and the United States.
She noted that synchronised swimming has been in Jamaica for over 11 years and that, in those years, some “big strides” were made.
Claro Jamaica’s Media Manager, Latoy Williams, commended the organizers, as well as the directors of Synchro Stars, for their vision and commitment to the development of synchronized swimming as a viable sport in Jamaica.
She noted that Claro’s commitment translates into total sponsorship this year to $1 million in cash and support to Synchro Stars.
“We contributed to the team’s participation in the just concluded overseas summer camp, between July 19 and August 20, and we are looking forward to the Jamaica Olympic Association’s FINA Clinic, the Claro Jamaica International Synchronised Swimming Championships and the International Aquatic Fusion- all scheduled for early October, 2010,” she said. Sponsors include Claro, the Jamaica Tourist Board, Tru Juice and Puma.
Championships session times include: Thursday (October 7) and Friday (October 8), from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. to facilitate students, parents, well wishers and the public, giving them a chance to see the local and international athletes in action; Thursday (October 7) figures (Novices, Intermediate and Age Groups) and awards; Friday (October 8) figures conclude, solo, duet and awards; and Saturday (October 9), trios and team. Tickets for the championships will cost $50 for children, $100 for adults per day.
The championships will culminate with the International Aquatic Fusion synchronised swimming performances at the Constant Spring Golf Club on Saturday, October 9.
Tickets for the International Aquatic Fusion will cost $1,000 for children and $2,000 for adults, at the Constant Spring Golf Club.
All the events will be governed by the rules of F