Entries for European Masters in London are open(EDIT:reopen)

euroaquatics2016.london/.../ "In order to accommodate additional athletes, LEN have agreed that entries will re-open but a limit of three events per person will be in place (entries made previously will not be affected). The system is currently being updated to enable additional entries to be made. LEN anticipate that the system will be ready and entries will open on Thursday 18th February after midday. LEN and the LOC will issue a communication when the system is fully open for swimming entries, including relays. Until entries close the detailed schedule of events each day will not be known. If the numbers increase significantly over than 15,000, both 50m pools in the London Aquatics Centre will have to be utilised for competition (whilst ensuring that there is warm up capacity at specific times in the day). LEN will issue the final programme once start lists have been confirmed."

sounds like a solid plan....(ironic)

Those who entered early are now also being "kindly requested" (required?) to limit their entries to three events. "Many thanks for registering to compete in swimming at the London 2016 Arena European Masters Championships at the London Aquatics Centre from May 25-29. As I am sure you will know, demand for swimming entries has reached unprecedented levels with double the number of athletes registered compared to Eindhoven. We at LEN believe that the Championships should be open to as many across Europe who are eligible to help celebrate masters swimming. LEN have been overwhelmed by the sheer number of people wishing to come to London but are committed to delivering the best experience possible for all athletes. Following a review of the Championships entries requested by the LEN Bureau, the LEN Masters Committee are now kindly requesting that all those who entered either four or five events during in the initial registration phase from February 8-10 reduce their entry to a maximum of three. This would then ensure that everyone has the same opportunity to race a maximum of three events and help in making the experience beneficial for all. LEN had deeply hoped to be able to fulfil the maximum five swimming entries initially allowed per person however it is clear that doing this would severely impact on the experience for all athletes, whether registered in the initial phase or not. LEN can confirm that full refunds will be made to all athletes reducing their number of events to a maximum of three and all athletes will be able to choose which events they wish to remain entered into and which events they do not."

I'm glad I did 2 LEN European Champs and one of them was in Eindhoven. This year I cannot go and I'm glad I can't - this would be a real stress.... just WOW!!! - 14000 in 2 days! Even in Riccione at Worlds the official number of participants was 12000 including synchronized swimming and dives and that meet was absolutely insane - 2 of my events I swam after 10pm. In Eindhoven the number was around 5000. 14000 - that's just unbelievable!!! :afraid:

I saw the email today in my inbox. I like the idea to reduce the event number to three and hope they will also heavy increase the standard times... I removed from 200 free and will start in 200m IM, 100m and 200m backstroke.

its event entries not people.

There is somethings new out there: with recent developments with regards to the demand to enter and take part in the Arena European Masters Championships, LEN and the LOC are able to provide the following update on the plans for the Championships and are able to answer many of the questions that have been asked. When will entries close? The LEN Bureau have approved a request for entries for all disciplines at the Championships to close at midnight on Tuesday March 15. This is in order to enable LEN to send the entry list to Federations for confirmation of competitors’ eligibility to compete in the Championships. Once Federations have confirmed eligibility then the approved entries will enable the LEN Masters Committee to draft the detailed competition schedule which will then be communicated in April (dependent on information being received from the National Federations). What is the policy regarding reducing entries from five or four events to three? The LEN Bureau have approved a change to Regulation MA-SW 1.4 for the 2016 Masters Championships in London in order to provide the maximum opportunity for swimmers from across Europe to participate. The Bureau recognise that this will have an impact on many athletes who were perhaps looking to compete in a range of events. This change sets the maximum number of events in swimming at three. Everyone who entered five or four events during the initial entry period will have until March 15 to choose from which events they will now withdraw. Failure to meet this deadline will result in LEN selecting the events to be withdrawn on your behalf. We strongly advise that you choose from which events you will withdraw by March 15 otherwise you may miss out on swimming your preferred events. When will I get my refund for the one or two events I am no longer entered for? Once all entries have been reduced to a maximum of three LEN will issue to the LOC a list of all persons who are to be refunded and the amount to be refunded. The LOC will then work with PayPal to facilitate this as quickly as possible. Please note, if you wish to withdraw completely from the Championships, in line with LEN Regulation MA-G 2.8, the LOC is not able to refund the admin fee or entry fee for any of the events you have entered. Are coach pass es available for the Championships? LEN regulation MA-G 3.1 identifies those personnel entitled to accreditation and as such coaches will not receive any accreditation. When are spectator tickets going to be made available? Seating capacity at the London Aquatics Centre is extremely limited and as a result spectator tickets for accompanying persons will be available but will be very limited in number. Further information regarding spectator tickets will be communicated once entries close and a full review of the competition schedule has been undertaken. The priority is to ensure that athletes entered in the Championships can be accommodated safely and securely in the venue. The LOC and LEN are working with the venue and authorities to ensure that as many people as possible can be accommodated in the venue in line with all safety requirements. How can I watch family or friends if they are racing in the second pool? The LOC have confirmed to LEN that they shall retain the video board used in the elite championships which shall show (via fixed cameras) the racing taking place in the second pool. The LOC is also exploring other solutions to show the event at locations on or near the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park along with catering provision. Further information will be made available in April. Which pool am I going to be swimming in? Once entries close on March 15, LEN will undertake a full review of the competition schedule and communicate in advance of the Championships which events will be taking place in which pool. More information will be made available in April. What facilities exist in the London Aquatics Centre? The London Aquatics Centre has changed considerably since hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Games. It has two 50m pools, with starting block s at both ends and full electronic timing capabilities. One pool has 10 lanes and is 3m deep, the other is 8 lanes and 2m deep. There are separate changing facilities for both pools already in place, in addition overlay which is being installed for the Elite Championship shall be retained for the Masters Championships in order to accommodate the increased entries. The seating capacity at the venue is 2,800 covering one 50m pool and the diving pool (note a curtain will be installed from the roof to create a separate performance space for the diving and synchronised swimming). Is the competition schedule going to change? The competition schedule of the Championships will not be changing. The London Aquatics Centre will open at 6am each day with swimming sessions set to start at 7:30am each day. The venue will close at 10pm each night. Again, further information will be made available in April. Will warm up facilities be provided at the Championships? Due to the increased demand to participate, warm up facilities provide a challenge for LEN and the LOC but some provision will be made available at the Championships and will be communicated once entries close and a full review of the competition has been undertaken. While you will be able to warm up within the London Aquatics Centre in a limited way, please come prepared to supplement this by warming up elsewhere. I am finding it expensive to find accommodation where can I look? The LOC has managed to secure preferential rates at selected hotels, there is a limit to the length of time the LOC can hold these rooms. If you follow the link on the Masters page this will take you straight to the accommodation booking site provided by the LOC supplier. www.len.eu/.../London 2016 EAC - Masters Communication Questions.aspx

Shame on LEN. As an expat American resident of London, I was so looking forward to the possibilities associated with hosting Europeans. I assumed this would replicate the great experiences I've had in Stockholm, Llublijana, and Riccione. Instead they have managed to create a logistical nightmare and incredible ill will with their arrogance. They neither understand nor care a rat's... about Masters swimming. I find it surprising that they were surprised by the popularity of London and the Olympic pool as venue. A major European destination with a great pool and Euro Champs happening too? Seriously? No disrespect to Eindhoven, but it simply doesn't have the same pull. Now swimmers are being forced to reduce their entries to 3 (understandable), however LEN won't say which events are now going to be held in the warm-up pool to accommodate the large number of swimmers (which, BTW is not regulation length when timing equipment is installed). People cannot make an informed choice. The refund policy had to be forced out of them. At first there was no refund policy. All knee-jerk reactions with little to no thought. Entry times are far too easy. Additionally, it seems you don't actually have to prove you can do your entry times (this was one down side to Riccione, where many swims were far slower than the cut-off...not that many people could have that many bad swims in multiple events). There is no policy for reducing the number of swims based on demand (such as USMS Nationals does) or a policy on how many entries for swims that don't make the cut-off. Oh, and we're "sorry" for the inconvenience caused to those of you who have flights/hotels booked that are now out of sync with the days you'll be swimming. Again, swimmers have to suffer the consequences of LEN's organisational ineptitude. Bureaucrats through and through. Such disrespect makes me draw the same conclusion that many have drawn: they care nothing for Masters except the money our events bring in. While it would be a tall order to create a USMS of Europe, I do hope this prompts European masters swimmers to apply pressure to their home country swimming associations to apply pressure to LEN for change.

This is a good article on the situation: www.pullbuoy.co.uk/.../masters-set-for-day-of-reckoning-over-euro-champs

Excellent article, thanks.