Britain’s bid to host the 2006 IPC (International Paralympic Committee) World Swimming Championships has received a major kickstart after UK Sport awarded £382,000 of Lottery money towards the costs of bidding for and staging the event.

The IPC is in the process of evaluating bids from South Africa, Britain and France, to host the championships – the most important competition for disabled swimmers behind the Paralympics.

The IPC championships are a major part of British Swimming’s strategic objectives for hosting major events – the competition would attract in the region of 600 competitors, from 60 nations, with 220 officials and staff. A volunteer force of over 300 would be required to stage the event – which would be held in the new National Pool in Swansea.

John Scott, director of major events at UK Sport said: “This award confirms UK Sport’s total commitment to Paralympic sport.

“The IPC world swimming championships are the showpiece event in the sport’s calendar outside of the Paralympics. Staging them in Swansea would provide a massive boost to the development of Britain’s leading swimmers with a disability, two years out from the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing.