Fred Vergnoux is a coach who likes to leave no stone unturned in pursuit of the pathways that work best for his charges at the City of Edniburgh. Now, the Frenchman has a new partner in progress: Arena is the squad's new technical sponsor, the swimwear company announced today.

The Scottish club, courtesy of performances from Kirsty Balfour, Gregor Tait and Kris Gilchris, among others, have helped Edinburgh boast one of the most impressive medal-winning hauls in international events in recent years as far as the British team goes. Then there's Vergnoux' wife, Alena Popchanka, whose efforts for France have been illustrious.

'The agreement with the City of Edinburgh is effective testament to Arena's continued search for high level partners, thus providing a concrete contribution to the development of swimming and other watersports. Edinburgh is a centre of excellence that is nothing short of a reference point for swimmers, not only from the United Kingdom ... precisely like Arena, and it is for this reason that this partnership is completely natural,' said Giuseppe Musciacchio, Arena Global Marketing Director.

'City of Edinburgh Swimming is delighted to have Arena as our partner and provider of the top quality swimwear that our athletes need to compete on the world stage. Our swimmers and coach have been greatly impressed by the Arena product line and are looking forward to using the swimsuits and clothing in this eventful Olympic year and beyond. We are pleased to be working with a company that emanates professionalism both in terms of its organisation and in its products. Arena represents a world-class partner for our world-class athletes,' said Jamie Edgar, chief executive of City of Edinburgh Swimming.

The Edinburgh swimmers have played a key role in the testing of Arena's Beijing 2008, their feedback invaluable to Arena's Research & Development Department. Vergnoux's squad has been at altitude in Font-Romeu of late and will at the home Edinburgh International (a meet founded by this author's dad many moons ago) as a warm-up, in some cases, for the European Championships in Eindhoven and, for others, the Olympic trials in Sheffield. As a medal winner at Melbourne 2007, Balfour is pre-selected for Beijing.