London 2012 Paralympian Mitchell Kilduff leads the line up that also includes Jesse Aungles, Rakiya Thomas, Ashleigh McConnell and Hayden McGuigan going to the event in Canada - which is being held at the home of the 1978 Commonwealth Games - as part of the Australian Commonwealth Games Association's (ACGA) "Go Glasgow" programme.

"For the four-year period between 2011 and the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, a record $8 million (£4 million/$7 million/€5 million) is being provided directly from ACGA funds through our 'Go Glasgow' programme to support team preparation across the 18 sports," ACGA chief executive Perry Crosswhite said.

"Exposure to international competition is a key element in developing and preparing athletes for the tough competition they will expect to face if selected for the Australian team going to the Commonwealth Games next year."

Ashleigh McConnell will be among the Australian athletes competing at the Can-Am Para Swimming Championships in Edmonton ©Getty Images


Mark Anderson, chief executive of Swimming Australia, claimed the funding is critical to the high performance strategy to provide athletes with additional competition opportunities at an international level ahead of Glasgow 2014 and is helping to achieve "sustainable success".

"Funding through the ACGA's Australian Junior Commonwealth Games Squad programme has already enabled us to send athletes to the World Junior Championships in Dubai this year, where they topped the medal table with 10 gold, six silver and two bronze medals," he added.

"Now with the 'Go Glasgow' programme we have the opportunity to provide further international experience to a group of teenage Parasport swimmers who will be aiming for Glasgow in July next year."

The Can-Am Para Swimming Championships will run from December 13 to 15.

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