World Swimming Championships Held in Melbourne

Melbourne has been on the world’s sports map these past couple of weeks due to the city hosting the 2007 World Swimming Championships.  Unfortunately the story of these championships has had nothing to do with swimming, but the assault between the Ukrianian swim team coach and his daughter that was caught on TV cameras:

WORLD swimming body FINA has withdrawn the accreditation of a Ukrainian coach captured by a television camera abusing and assaulting his daughter, a competitor at the Melbourne world titles.

Late last night, Victorian police were still questioning the 38-year-old man and his daughter after being called around 6pm to view disturbing footage filmed by a Nine Network camera in a marshalling room at the Rod Laver Arena where the world championships are being staged.

Inspector Rick Nugent told a media conference that police had not determined whether any charges would be laid against the man, who was seen pushing and kicking his swimsuited daughter, who vainly attempted to defend herself.

Later, the man was seen attempting to reconcile with her, as she slumped to the floor and tried to wriggle out of his embrace.

The shocking footage, aired around the world, blighted the Melbourne championships on a night when all attention should have focused on some spectacular swimming that saw four world records fall and Australia’s Leisel Jones defend her 100m breaststroke world record, just missing her own world mark.

It looks like nothing will happen to him because his daughter will not press charges, but it is unfortunate that so much attention has been paid to this incident.