The SwimmingSA Country Championships will come to town in 2012.

The Port Pirie Amateur Swimming Club learned it had won the bid to host the championships at the recent Loxton event.

Club secretary Tracy Lepinath said some accommodation had been booked out on the day of the announcement.

“As far as country championships go, it is a real coup for the region,” she said.

“It is like an Olympic event with an opening ceremony and medal presentations plus dinners and coaching sessions.”

The event will see swimmers from across Australia compete in a range of swimming strokes over four days.

According to SwimmingSA figures, Mount Gambier saw 346 competitors of all ages and more than 600 spectators daily at the event last year, recording an estimated local economic

profit of more than $1.4 million

Port Pirie is expected to meet – and possibly better - such figures.

Team manager Kerry Court said the club had waited until the new $1m pool was finished before bidding for the event.

“We needed to wait for the pool to be replaced and now we are hoping the building of the new amenities block will be speeded in time for the event,” she said.

Port Pirie last hosted the event in 2004 with Port Augusta and Whyalla.

Each club took home $4000 from competitor and entry fees.

“Because we are hosting it by ourselves in 2012 there will be a bigger benefit for us and for the community,” Mrs Court said.

Club officials plan to meet the Port Pirie Regional Council to discuss its involvement in the event.