THE third Jamaica International Synchronised Swimming Championships will be staged October 6-8 at the YMCA facility for the first two days and Bournemouth Bath on the final day, with Canada, Puerto Rico, Barbados and Costa Rica expected to participate.

Meet organiser Diahann Campbell, who also has responsibility for local synchronised swimming, is hoping the championships will galvanise the growth of the sport with an eye on the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, and the Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing, China — both in 2014.

“This year it’s all about exposure, exposure, exposure,” said the enthusiastic Campbell, with $400,000 of the $500,000 to stage the championships already covered, thanks to sponsors such as Knutsford Court Hotel, Gatorade, Sports Development Foundation, Jamaica Tourist Board, Ensure, Pediasure, Jamaica Energy Partners, and Reggae Jammin.

“We want more persons interested in the sport, having knowledge of the sport and actually doing the sport, so as we get closer to 2014 we will have a wider pool of persons to choose from for a team, duet, and solo.

“With more persons we will have a higher standard, better quality, and bigger group,” she emphasised at a press conference yesterday at Knutsford Court Hotel poolside.

Synchronised swimming involves dancing and gymnastics and other elaborate moves in water and accompanied by music. Artistry, flexibility, grace, precise timing and endurance with strong breath control, especially when upside down under water, are key factors in this hybrid form of swimming.

It started 12 years ago in Jamaica, but since 2009 fervent attempts have been made to increase participation.

Synchro Stars Jamaica, one of only two local synchronised swimming clubs, put on a series of demonstration yesterday at the hotel’s pool under themes such as “The Hidden Factor” and “More Than You bargained for”.

Swimmers included Isabella Cisneros-Wynter, Monique Watson, Breann Campbell, Joley Campbell, T’Neil Gooden, L’Zane Perry, Kelsey Beckford, and Imani Salmon.

The Campbells, Breann and Joley, performed dances the Bogle, the butterfly and Bolt’s To the World under water.

The championships have been divided into competitions for novice, intermediate, age group and masters doing solo, duet, trio, and team.

Admission is free for students in uniform, with $50 for children and $100 for adults.