2010The LEN European Swimming, Diving, Synchronised Swimming and Open Water Swimming championships - Set

The European Swimming League (LEN) usually holds the classical European swimming championships, in 50 m pool, every two years (In the past the championships had been held every four years.) Within the scope of the European Championships the competitors do not only measure their strengths in swimming, as there are also synchronised swimming and diving events and at this time they also hold the open water swimming championships as well. The event is also usually referred to as the “European Aquatics Championships”. The venue of the very first European Championships in 1926 was the capital city of Hungary, Budapest. Since then we have hosted the event in 1958 and 2006. The 2010 continental challenge will hopefully be a worthy continuation of those held in the past. According to the plans the venues – as compared to the 2006 championships – will not change. The swimming and synchronised swimming will be held in the Széchy Tamás Swimming Pool and the diving events will also be held in this new facility built in 2006, the open water swimming events will be held on Lake Balaton. The new heart-shaped logo of the event, which the organisers took from a sponsor of the championships, Magyar Turizmus Zrt with their full agreement, also symbolises that the realisation of the event will take place with hear and soul and not just out of routine, which is the greatest danger when an event is held again. As the participants took such a liking to the puli dog in 2006, the mascot will not change this year only its colour: in 2010 it will be white instead of black. (Source: hu.wikipedia.org * xlsport.hu * sporthirado.hu * musz.hu) On the basis of the decision of the Hungarian Swimming Association fifty percent of the ticket income of the 30th European Swimming Championships will be donated to the flood victims. Graphic compositions referring to individual events of the championships are shown on the stamp, first day cover and special cancellation stamp issued on the occasion of the 30th LEN European Swimming, Diving, Synchronised Swimming and Open Water Swimming championships.