ISLAND Aquatics Synchro Club will host its Seventh Jamaica Synchronised Swimming Invitational Competition today at the National Aquatic Centre in Kingston.

The Typhoon Swim Club from Curacao will compete for the second year in a row in the novice and age group 12 and under and 13-15 categories. There will also be competition in the 16-18 age group. Local competitors will include swimmers from Island Aquatics Synchro Club (Kingston and Portland Chapters) as well as Campion College, Hillel Academy and Immaculate Conception Preparatory School.

Today’s competition starts in the morning at 9:00 with the figures competition followed by the routines with music starting in the afternoon at 12:30. The figures competition consists of specialised movements and transitions done individually without music. The exciting routines with music include solos, duets and team routines, which require flexibility and advanced water skills including a combination of gymnastics and dance techniques.

The sport of synchronised swimming has been growing in Jamaica and is now included as part of the extra-curricular activities in some schools, however, there is a need to develop more local coaches. The sports administrators will be looking at developing programmes for the training of interested persons.

The opportunities are many as once swimmers have mastered the basic techniques then they may begin to compete in age group competitions and a chance to represent the sport at the national and international level.

The competition is sanctioned by the Amateur Swimming Association of Jamaica with FINA (international) rules. Competitors will include some of the swimmers who have previously qualified to represent Jamaica, as well as some who competed at the UANA Pan American Synchronised Swimming Competition last August.

Sponsors for the meet this year include Dekal Wireless, JMMB (Joan Duncan Foundation), PA Benjamin and Key Insurance Company Ltd.