The Rome World Championships will be staged at the magnificent Foro Italico in 2009, organisers confirmed in Eindhoven today. There had been plans to build a new complex elsewhere in the city but the Eternal City has taken a wise decision.

The Foro Italico is not only beautiful and atmospheric but allows the FINA World Championships to be staged in a compact area: there are four permanent pools, two of them 50m, and two temporary facilities will be sunk into the tennis centre for water-polo and synchronised swimming. All competition will be outdoors.

Gianni Minervini, former World and European bronze medallist in the 100m breaststroke, was on hand in Eindhoven to deliver news of progress. The main competition pool will be graced with a 17,000-seat temporary spectator stand on three sides, and ticketing, which gets underway in September, is being pitched at 10 to 50 euros (very reasonable), with packages for bulk buys,.

Minervini and Giovanni Malago, president of the organising commitee, talked about the championships being more than a sports event. The opening ceremony may be staged across the Tiber, for example, as festivities spill out across the city. 'We want a whole-city involvement," said Minervini. Involving the whole city is one of the principal objectives of the whole event.' The economic impact could be great enough (revenue flow of euros 2 billion, according to research) to influence Italian GDP in 2009.

Beyond the facts, figures and fantasies of accountants, there is an extraordinary place to be explored. The Eternal City is a magnificent place. A city where you never take a cab - walk everywhere and you'll be rewarded with a different treasure around every corner.

The dates for your diary: July 18, 2009 for 16 days.