Seven countries want FINA world champs

Lausanne - Cities in seven countries, including Australia, China and Qatar, want to stage the world swimming championships in 2021 and 2023, the FINA world governing body said on Thursday.

Australia has put forward Melbourne or Sydney, China Wuhan or Nanjing and Germany proposed two unnamed cities, said a FINA statement. Japan, Turkey and Qatar also put forward potential venues.

The world body hopes to announce the 2021 and 2023 venues by the end of this year.

FINA president Julio Maglione said cities were all attracted by evidence that the world championship "brings clear economic, social, cultural, tourism and sports impacts."

The next world championship is in Kazan, Russia in July. They will be held in Budapest in 2017 and in Kwangju, South Korea in 2019.