The National Sports Centre’s Aquatic Centre will stage its first long course meet and the biggest swim event since last summer’s NatWest Island Games when the Bermuda Amateur Swimming Association holds the Validus Bermuda National Championships from June 5 to 8.

The long course championships meet will be held on the first anniversary of the opening of the new facility and will be recognised by Fina, the world governing body of aquatics, as approved for swimmers achieving the Fina A and B qualifying standard times.

The recognition allows results at the meet to be recognised for qualification purposes for both this year’s Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing, China, and the 2015 World Championships in Montreal. It will also be the last chance for swimmers to attain qualifying standards for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow this summer.

Overseas swimmers may also compete in the meet, raising the level of competition.

Ben Smith, the Bermuda coach, said. “As a result of the Fina confirmation and the limited number of such recognised meets each year, we are receiving interest from overseas swimmers to participate, which will provide added competition to our local swimmers seeking to continue their impressive performances from Carifta 2014,”