CIASA’s President Tom McCallum confirmed today that Maples and Calder is the title sponsor for the Cayman National Development Programme.

With the arrival of the new Technical Director for Swimming, Ian Armiger, Cayman Swimming is poised to build on the explosive growth the sport has seen in the last year and to once again become a swimming powerhouse in the region.

Maples and Calder join the Cayman Islands Government in their investment in Cayman Swimming.

Earlier this year, Minister Scotland had this to say about Armiger’s decision to take up the new Technical Director post, “we are delighted that someone who is internationally renowned and recognised in the sport of swimming is our new Technical Director for Swimming. With the recent successes of Shaune and Brett Fraser bringing swimming to the forefront of sporting successes in Cayman we look forward to seeing Coach Armiger’s innovation and dedication elevating both the sport of swimming domestically and the success of Cayman swimming internationally. CIASA has worked closely with the Ministry to achieve this milestone hiring and we look forward to a continued, close working relationship with CIASA in the coming year.”

“Maples has a history of supporting swimming and youth oriented initiatives,” said Paul Lumsden, Maples and Calder Partner. “This sponsorship represents an exciting development and we look forward to seeing Ian make his trademark ‘fast swimming’ a part of Cayman Swimming’s mantra.”

In Cayman for a week, with three of the swimmers he has coached to positions on the UK Olympic Team, Ian has been spending time on the pool deck at the Lions Aquatic Centre (LAC), meeting with representatives of CIASA, Camana Bay Aquatic Club (CBAC) and Stingray Swim Club (SSC).

“We are delighted to welcome Ian to Cayman,” added Dale Crowley, Maples and Calder Partner, “And we look forward to spending more time with him after the 2012 Summer Olympics in London when his primary focus will be developing a world class swim programme here in the Cayman Islands.”

The visiting Olympic swimmers are Caitlin McClatchey, who qualified for the Olympics in 200m Freestyle; Amy Smith, who qualified for the Olympics in 50m + 100m Freestyle and Joe Roebuck, who qualified for the Olympics in 200m Butterfly, 200m and 400m IM. The three, along with Coach Ian, conducted clinics at the LAC and CBAC.