Rescue 2006 will be organised in the State of Victoria. Victoria is located in the South of Australia just above the Island of Tasmania and has Melbourne as its Capital City.

Melbourne is very well known for its excellent organisation of sports events. Yearly Melbourne is hosting the F1 Grand Prix, the Tennis Tournament, and many more. Melbourne was also selected to organise the Masters Games in 2002 with over 20.000 participants and will organise in 2006 the Commonwealth Games and some weeks after the Lifesaving World Championships.

Rescue 2006 will be organised in the State of Victoria. Victoria is located in the South of Australia just above the Island of Tasmania and has Melbourne as its Capital City.

Melbourne is very well known for its excellent organisation of sports events. Yearly Melbourne is hosting the F1 Grand Prix, the Tennis Tournament, and many more. Melbourne was also selected to organise the Masters Games in 2002 with over 20.000 participants and will organise in 2006 the Commonwealth Games and some weeks after the Lifesaving World Championships.

On invitation of Surf Life Saving Australia (SLSA), the ILS President and Secretary General made an on-site inspection visit to Melbourne, Geelong and Lorne and received a complete briefing and update of the 2006 Lifesaving World Championships.

The delegation first met in Kurrawa Beach (Queensland) with the Members of the Rescue 2006 Board of Directors. Ron Ranking, President of SLSA and of the 2006 Board welcomed the President and Secretary General to the inspection visit and was happy to confirm that the Rescue 2006 has appointed Nick Jordan as the Event Manager of Rescue 2006.

After travelling to Melbourne the delegation was taken care of by Mike Martin (President of Surf Life Saving Victoria) and Norman Farmer (CEO RLSS Victoria). On 23 and 24 March, visits were planned to Lorne and Geelong. Nigel Taylor (CEO SLS Victoria) and Nick Jordan organised the visits which included on site visits to the beach venue, the accommodations in Lorne, the surroundings, the pool in Geelong, the accommodation in Geelong and the beach in Geelong.

The delegation met in Geelong with the Municipality, the Tourism Board and many more. In Melbourne, the delegation met with Peter Abraam (CEO Victoria Major Events Company) as well as with his collaborators.

Conclusions of the ILS President and Secretary General:

• The Victoria Major Events Company is very much supportive.
• Geelong will construct a new 50 m swimming pool besides the existing 50 m pool.
• The main hotels are very satisfactory.
• The Beach in Lorne is superb and the surroundings are ideal for the organisation of the World Championships.