The International Swimming Federation has announced that Melbourne, Australia has won the right to host the 2007 world long-course swimming championships.
The 2006 world short course (25-meter) championships were awarded to Shanghai, China.
The decision was a victory for Australian Swimming after it had persuaded Melbourne to re-enter the competition just four weeks ago. Melbourne had withdrawn from the race three months ago because the city said hosting the championships would be too expensive.
Australian Swimming and Victoria State Major Events Corporation reached agreement and Melbourne re-entered the competition last month. The Australian bid beat the United Arab Emirates and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
The championships are not only for swimming in the 50-meter pool, but also for open water swimming, diving, water polo, and synchronized swimming.