Russians lap it up

By Shaun Inguanzo
THE AUSTRALIAN World Championship swimming team is preparing for this week’s FINA World Championships at Haileybury College in Keysborough.
The Aussies yesterday (Wednesday) used Haileybury’s 50 metre lap pool to iron out the nerves before the first day of competition today.
Greater Dandenong is currently in the grip of chlorine-fever with the Russian national swim team training at nearby Doveton Pool in the Park and staying at central Dandenong’s Ramada Encore Hotel.
An excited Russian-Australian community, with help from the Ramada Encore and Greater Dandenong mayor Youhorn Chea, held a civic reception yesterday evening (Wednesday) for the Russian team to meet and greet the sports stars from their homeland.
And yes, there was vodka!
Dandenong South is home to the Russian Welfare Society and has become a focal point of the state’s Russian community.