Turkey expects FINA decision to host 2012 short course swimming championships

ANKARA, March 12 (Xinhua) -- Turkey, one of three candidates to host 2012 Short Course Swimming Championships, is expecting the decision of International Swimming Federation (FINA), the semi-official Anatolia news agency reported on Wednesday.

FINA will announce the host city on April 12 in Manchester, said the report, adding that the Turkish largest city of Istanbul competes with Argentina's Mar Del Plata and Austria's Vienna to host the event.

A FINA delegation headed by Secretary-General Cornel Marculescu arrived in Turkey and held talks with Turkish State Minister Murat Basesgioglu, Director-General for Youth & Sports Mehmet Atalay and Turkish National Olympics Committee Togay Bayatli on Wednesday, said the report.

Bayatli was quoted as saying that FINA has a sympathy for Turkey, adding, "We must take advantage of this sympathy."