World Synchronized Skating Championships arrive in Hamilton

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The World Synchronized Skating Championships have arrived in Hamilton. It starts tomorrow, and it’s the first time the world class event has been held in Hamilton. International skaters are impressed with the city and it’s facility.

It’s a combination of intricate formations, spins and jumps. The first World Synchronized Championships were held in 2000 and have grown in popularity, so much so there are talks it could become an Olympic sport.

“I think it would be absolutely amazing and i think synchro skating really deserves the attention and it should have been an Olympic sport years ago” says Team Belgium’s Luca Boeykens.

The two day competition is taking place at First Ontario Centre, and the skaters are impressed with the facility. “It’s been incredible so far. We don’t have anything like this at home the rink is amazing” says Natalia Fardella from Team Australia. Other skaters agree. “It’s such a big ice rink. We don’t have such ice rinks in Belgium so it’s really cool” says Olesia Poushmyntseva.

There are 25 teams from 20 different countries and close to 500 skaters competing for top spot. It takes a lot of work to get to this competition. “It takes a long year of training. We work really hard to make it look unified as one. But we are a family – we work together” says Amily Albert from Team USA.

There are more than four thousand people in Hamilton staying at hotels, eating at restaurants and experiencing the area. The economic impact is expected to be over 7 million dollars. And skaters like what they see – and have even found time to take in some local tourist spots. “We went to the Niagara water falls and we loved it. It was great!”

Tickets are still available for this weekends events.