France: The French national team for Budapest and the European Championships will gather on July 27 for their final camp at Mulhouse before leaving for Hungary. The permanent coach at Mulhouse, Lionel Horter, is also director of swimming for France. The squad will also race as a unit at the Paris Open, June 26-27.
Russia: Prime Minister Vladimir Putin today officially congratulates 30-lap ace Vladimir Salnikov, chairman of the Russian Swimming Federation, on his 50th birthday. Part of the state announcement on the Russian Government's website reads: "Your bright career and great victories are a part of the country's sports heritage. You are regarded as one of the most accomplished members of the national swimming team, a talented and goal-oriented man with a strong fighting spirit."
Read our Salute to Salnikov here.
Britain: British Swimming and the Amateur Swimming Association of England are spending £250,000 on a contract to refit their new joint offices at Loughborough University. Blueprint Interiors have won the contract to design the office space for the 180 staff who are currently based at seven different locations.
Rome2009: The Board of the Roma2009 world championships, scheduled for yesterday, had to be postponed because a quorum was not reached. Among absentees was president Paolo Barelli, FINA Bureau member. The meeting is now scheduled for June 9.
