Hangzhou awarded 2018 short-course world championships

Swimming's world governing body FINA voted for Hangzhou ahead of rival bids from Peru and the United Arab Emirates on the eve of this year's championships, starting in Qatar on Wednesday.

"China is an important partner of FINA and we are always happy to return to this beautiful country," FINA President Julio Maglione said in a statement.

China also hosted the short-course (25-metre pool) world titles in 2006 as well as the long-course (50-metre pool) world championships in 2011.

The next short-course championships will be held in Windsor, Canada in 2016.

(Editing by Greg Stutchbury)