FINA swimming championships generated $36M of 'economic activity' in Windsor

The FINAWorld Swimming Championship and World Aquatics Convention generated roughly $36 million of "economic activity" for Windsor, according to an economic impact study council will review at its next meeting.

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The five-day international competition was held at the WFCU Centre last December and resulted in a surplus of $146,311, which the report from Deputy Treasurer Tony Ardovini's recommendsusing to fund aquatics leadership and legacy projects.

The money would be used to buy backstroke ledges which are commonly used at the competitive level, and underwater cameras to help athletes improve their technique.

Ardovini said that a portion of the money would also go towards the mayor's youth leadership team, which helps to mentor young people andget them involved in volunteering to run events such as the FINA games.

"Part of the components that we're looking at is continuing leadership training in the mayor's leadership team,some mentoringthat programs continuedandit's been very successful," said Ardovini, adding that he's looking to create a volunteer database to create a pool of individuals who can work the major events.

A further funding surplus of $116,191, specifically related to Windsor's $3-million investment in the event, is recommenced to be rolled into the city's capital budget for 2018.

As for the $36 million of "economic activity"thatthe Canadian Sports Tourism Alliance has tallied, not everyone agrees that the economic impact is that high.

"In research we have found for a while now, too many flaws in the methodology of economic impacts and we now promote and use or suggest that citiesand politicians and event owners use cost benefit analysis because these are much more inclusive," saidMilenaParent, a professor in the school of Human Kinetics atthe University of Ottawa.

Parent said that large sporting events often bring in far less profits, and that the figures are exagerated by at least ten times.

There are factors not considered in economic analyses, like those who might have left Windsorknowing the event washappening and chose to spend their money elsewhere or those who were already planning to visit the city and moved their dates to coincide with the event, said Parent.