On October 7, Jamaica is scheduled to host the Claro International Synchronised Swimming Championship at the Bournemouth Bath Pool Complex.

Speaking last Tuesday at the launch of the three-day Championships, president of the Amateur Swimming Association of Jamaica (ASAJ), John Eyre singled out Synchro Stars’ Diahann Campbell and her team for their efforts in generating interest in the sport.

“It’s the idea of Diahann Campbell, chairperson of Synchro Stars, who immediately got members actively involved in putting their ideas together for this competition. It’s the kind of event that adds a new dimension to what’s here in Jamaica,” he said.

“If we get everyone to do that then aquatic sports will go a far way. Most of the bigger swimming clubs have their own events throughout the years and it always adds a new flavour. It will also get more people involved and they would get their sponsors to come onboard so it’s really good for swimming,” Eyre added.

Synchronised swimming involves a person or a team performing an organised routine of elaborate dance and gymnastic moves in the water, usually accompanied by music.

Telecoms giants Claro will be pumping $400,000 in this year’s championships, which should see Jamaica being joined by teams from Curaçao, Panama, Peru and the United States of America.

Campbell told the Observer that inviting those teams would provide local athletes with good exposure to international competition.

“We want to expose the athletes and we want to expose the sport to the Jamaican public. When we invite these teams it will help us to raise the bar because unfortunately sometimes you have to bring in international teams for persons to become interested,” she said.

Campbell added that aside from the Championship, measures have been put in place to help secure a bright future for synchronised swimming.

“We will be having a clinic that is sanctioned and endorsed by the world governing aquatics body, FINA (Federation International Nation Association). The clinic is geared at giving persons more insight into the sport and help with its development.

“At the end of the championship there is a planned fundraiser to assist the team that is going to prepare for the XXVI CARIFTA Swimming Championships in Barbados next year. We will have a show involving the various competitors, both local and overseas. So we are also looking ahead and planning for the future,” Campbell said.