Swimmers will make a splash at the Canada Games Aquatic Centre in Saint John later this week.

The annual Atlantic Cup will be held in the Port City starting Friday and continuing through Sunday.

The long course meet is being hosted by the Fredericton Aquanauts Swim Team,  but a 50 metre pool is needed, so it is held in Saint John.

Meet manager Michael MacDonald said it includes nearly 230 swimmers between the ages of 10 and 18.

“It’s probably the highest level of swimming you’re going to see in this area,” MacDonald said in an interview.

“They’re competitive swimmers training four to 10 times a week. Some of these kids would eventually go on to compete at national-level meets.”

Most of the teams taking part in the event are from New Brunswick, said MacDonald.

But there are also participants coming from Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador, Quebec and Ontario.  That also includes swimmers from the Codiac Vikings Aquatic Club, CNBO, both of Greater Moncton, TIDE of Saint John and FAST from Fredericton.

“It is open to teams from across the country,” he said.

The meet will include preliminary swims in the morning to qualify for finals in the evening, with trophies awarded to the top swimmers in each category.

Paulette Hicks, CEO of Envision Saint John, said the Atlantic Cup will bring an estimated $200,000 to the Saint John region.

“Events like this help to fill our restaurants, hotels, and shops – driving economic impact for the Saint John region,” Hicks said in a news release.

With files from Tara Clow