Great Britain has been confirmed as one of three nations in the running to host the 2010 IPC Swimming World Championships.

Following an expression of interest submitted by British Swimming in December, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has announced Sheffield as one of three candidate cities. But the host of the 1993 European Swimming Championships and 1996 World Masters Swimming Championships faces stiff competition from 2007 European Swimming Championships hosts Eindhoven (Holland) and Minneapolis (USA).

British Swimming will spearhead the British bid in partnership with UK Sport and Sheffield City Council, proposing Ponds Forge International Centre - one of the country's top swimming facilities - as the venue.

Ponds Forge, managed by Sheffield International Venues, hosts all three Disability Sports Events (DSE) Swimming Championships each year, accommodating up to 400 athletes with a disability at each event.

The IPC Swimming World Championships take place every four years and is the second largest competition involving disability swimming behind the Paralympics.

Britain has a strong history of Paralympic swimming and is a leading country in the sport. Its team became back-to-back World Champions in the pool after a successful campaign at the 2006 World Championships in Durban, collecting 24 gold, 14 silver and 14 bronze medals.

British Swimming Chief Executive David Sparkes is delighted Sheffield has made the final short-list and believes the 2010 World Championships will play a vital role in the country's preparations for the London Paralympics.

"I'm delighted Sheffield has been selected as a candidate city," said Sparkes. "A key part of our strategy towards 2012 is to host the World Disability Championships in 2010.

"We were the top nation in the pool in Durban last year and it is our intention to top the table again in Sheffield and at London 2012 to remain the leading force in disability swimming."

British Paralympic Association Chief Executive Phil Lane believes the World Championships would provide a fitting home competition opportunity in the run-up to the 2012 Paralympics.

"We were delighted that Sheffield is in the running to host the 2010 IPC Swimming World Championships," he said.

"Facilities at Ponds Forge in Sheffield are of a very high standard and have been used for both domestic and international swimming championships for a number of years, so it is an ideal venue to host such a championships.

"By topping the medal table at the 2006 World Championships, Britain's swimmers showed they are among the best in the world.

"So if the bid is successful it would be a great opportunity for Britain's established Paralympic swimmers to shine in front of a home crowd, as well as serve as an inspiration to Britain's aspiring Paralympians ahead of the London 2012 Games."

UK Sport International Director John Scott is in full support of the bid and is looking forward to working with the key partners.

"We are delighted to hear the news that Sheffield has been invited to make a formal bid for these prestigious championships. We look forward to working with all partners involved to progress the project further."