WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS KICK OFF TOMORROW IN TURKEY, FIVE DAYS OF FAST SWIMMING IN STORE

PHOENIX, Arizona, AKUATIK INDONESIA, December 11. TOMORROW begins a marathon five days of competition at the FINA Short Course World Championships in Istanbul, Turkey. According to Ahmet Bozdogan, the Chairman of the Turkish Swimming Federation, a record number of athletes will be in attendance: 1,100 swimmers representing 162 countries. An additional 9 countries are sending athletes this year, up from 153 countries in 2010. The 25-meter championship meet is held every two years, the last of which was in Dubai.

Athletes from around the globe are already situated in Istanbul, getting used to time zone and facility differences before diving into the water to race tomorrow at the Sinan Erdem Arena. Swimmers Tweeted out pictures of the venue, revamped and decorated for the event. USA Swimming embedded a picture of Team USA's last practice before tomorrow's kick-off, as well: