Great Britain is one of seven nations bidding for the right to host the 2010 IPC Swimming World Championships.

Britain has a strong record in the second largest disability swimming competition after the Paralympic Games. The British team returned as champions from this year's event in Durban, with 24 gold, 14 silver and 14 bronze medals.

The bid, which is being made in partnership with UK Sport and Sheffield City Council, would see the four-yearly championships held at the Ponds Forge pool.

Sheffield will join a shortlist of seven cities bidding for the event – Athens, Eindhoven, Saint Raphael, Debrecen, Minneapolis and Bogota are the others put forward.

The event would be a useful part of the British build up to the Paralympics in 2012, said British Swimming chief executive David Sparkes: "The IPC World Championships will play an important part in our build-up to 2012.

"Not only will it develop our athletes, but it is also a significant opportunity to develop expertise of our staff and volunteers two years out from the Games."