British Swimming has appointed Promote PR to manage the marketing and communications for the rearranged 2019 IPC World Para Swimming Championships which take place at the London Aquatics Centre from 9-15 September 2019.

The event will see para swimming back at the London Aquatics Centre, on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, for the first time since the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

The staging of the prestigious event in the British capital follows the International Paralympic Committee’s (IPC) decision earlier this year to strip Malaysia of the right to host the event. The Malaysian government failed to provide the IPC with the necessary guarantees that Israeli Para swimmers could participate, free from discrimination, and safely in the championships.

London 2019, a key qualifier for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, will be the ninth edition of the World Para Swimming Championships and marks the second time the event has been staged in Great Britain following the 2015 edition in Glasgow. Around 600 swimmers from 60 nations are set to compete in the championships.

Promote will lead the planning and delivery of marketing and communication around the championships including stakeholder engagement and broadcaster relations. Following this week’s launch event, other key milestones in the months ahead will include the announcement of ticket sales and the GB team announcement.

Commenting on Promote’s appointment, Jack Buckner, CEO of British Swimming, says, “Promote were a natural choice for us with their breadth of experience working with sports brands and large-scale events, coupled with their knowledge and connections in the industry. We’re excited to be working with the team to ensure we have a sell out at the London Aquatics Centre this September and to build an extensive audience in London for high profile, elite swimming events. We’ve already started this with the FINA Diving World Series which takes place at the London Aquatics Centre on 17–19 May 2019.”

Promote’s CEO, Sue Anstiss MBE, adds, “We all remember the incredible atmosphere during the London 2012 Paralympic Games, and we’re delighted to have been chosen to lead on a project to recreate the excitement and buzz around the World Para Swimming Championships. We’re so proud to have been appointed by British Swimming who continue to lead the way in promoting para swimming.”