This month's Pan-American Masters Championship will generate powerful economic waves.

By Hannah Wallace

Read a full PDF version of this article here.

For the first two weeks in June, the 2013 Pan-American Masters Championship will be held in Sarasota, making it the first U.S. county ever to host the international, biennial swim meet. Thousands of athletes, plus their families and supporters, come from across the country, Canada, Mexico, Central and South America and the Caribbean to compete in individual and relay pool races as well as synchronized swimming and open-water events. No qualifying times or experience is necessary to participate, and the meet is expected to bring in millions of dollars for the region.

50%

Percentage of swimmers coming from out of the country

7,500-10,000

Estimated number of room nights in hotels

2,000-plus

Estimated number of swimmers

$5.1 million

Estimated economic impact

Other cities that have hosted the Pan Am Championship

San Juan, Puerto Rico, 2007

Veracruz, Mexico, 2009

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 2011

21

Number of countries swimmers are coming from

2-3 per day

Number of bilingual announcers60-80 per day

Number of volunteers needed

$0

Financial cost to YMCA to operate the meet

(The meet is funded entirely by entry fees.)

5,000-plus

Number of medals that will be awarded

Transportation for swimmers

Daily shuttle service between 39 hotels

18 to 90-plus

Age range of swimmers

1

Number of specialists helping U.S. Masters Swimming with visas