Columbus to host national swimming, diving championships

Columbus has scored its first swimming and diving national championships since opening the Columbus Aquatics Center in 2013.

The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics announced Monday it entered a two-year agreement with the Columbus Sports Council to host the 2016 and 2017 men's and women's swimming and diving national championships.

The 2016 event will be March 2-5.

"The NAIA is excited to renew its partnership with the Columbus Sports Council," said Jim Carr, NAIA President and CEO, in a release. "Columbus delivered a great experience for our softball student-athletes, and we are confident that they can take our swimming and diving championships to the next level. Our student-athletes deserve an experience that they'll remember for a lifetime, and Columbus is committed to helping us achieve that goal."

The 57,000 square foot aquatics center features a 10-lane, 50-meter Olympic swimming pool and a diving well. There's mezzanine-level seating for 900 fans.

The NAIA said 26 institutions sponsor men's swimming and diving and 29 sponsor women's swimming and diving. Former conference member Oklahoma Baptist currently owns both men's and women's national championships.

Columbus' Parks and Recreation currently is operating the facility on an interim basis after the previous vendor was dismissed from its contract in January.

Columbus Council heard during a presentation last month from Parks and Recreation Director James Worsley that a field of applicants to operate the facility was narrowed down to one, but the bid of $1.27 million is almost half a million dollars more than the $836,000 the city has budgeted to operate the facility.

This story was originally published November 30, 2015 at 9:54 PM with the headline "Columbus to host national swimming, diving championships ."