The spirit of London 2012 is very much back in the capital as the city steps in to stage the 2019 IPC World Para Swimming Championships.

The London Aquatics Centre, located on the iconic Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, was the cradle of the London 2012 Paralympic Games and once again welcomes the best in the world.

London have stepped up to the plate after the International Paralympic Committee’s (IPC) decision to strip Malaysia of the event for refusing to let Israelis compete.

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.

“The Championships will be really exciting - they’ll bring the 2012 spirit back again and we all know how that transformed para-sport,” said British Swimming CEO Jack Buckner.

“We’re expecting an atmosphere like 2012. I’ve been to lots of parasport events since then and we get an incredible atmosphere in this country. We can’t wait to have it back again.

“We’ve been spoilt with big events in recent years and we’re really proud to continue the reputation and tradition of staging big competitions.

“There hasn’t been a big event at the Aquatics Centre since 2016 so having the World Championships there is going to be amazing.”

Multiple world champions Jessica-Jane Applegate and Bethany Firth will be among those aiming for a place on the British team at the event from 9 to 15 September.

The British Para-Swimming team’s last major competition in the pool yielded a record 55 medals, the World Para Swimming European Championships in Dublin last summer a resounding success.

Every British para-athlete that wins either gold or silver in their event in London automatically banks a place at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games – a towering incentive.

“We’re absolutely delighted London has been able to step up and take on the Championships,” said National Performance Director Chris Furber.

“Last year we competed really successfully in Dublin, got a lot of momentum as a team and it would have been a massive shame if we wouldn’t have had a major competition this year, so this announcement is fantastic news that has come exactly at the right time.

“It’s about earning places in Tokyo but it’s more than that – building momentum going into the Games.

“We have a very young, dynamic, enthusiastic team but they need that experience.

“They need to hear their name called, walk out in front of a big crowd and soak up that atmosphere so they’re able to make the step up to the Paralympic Games.”

  • The 2019 World Para Swimming Championships are coming to the London Aquatics Centre from 9 to 15 September. Tickets will be on sale soon via the British Swimming website: www.britishswimming.org