The Road to Athens begins in Seattle when the Weyerhaeuser-King County Aquatic Center plays host to the 2003 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Synchronized Swimming Duet on Jan. 17-20, 2003.

Tickets for the Trials went on sale Jan. 2 at the aquatic center. An adult ticket costs $10, with seniors (62+) and children (1-14) admitted for $7.50.

"The Olympic Trials is one of the few chances Seattle area residents have to see Olympic caliber athletes competing for the right to represent their country," said WKCAC Director Mike Dunwiddie. "We felt it was very important to keep ticket prices affordable, and to allow unprecedented access to these Olympic hopefuls."

The 2004 U.S. Olympic Team - Synchronized Swimming Duet will be the first two U.S. athletes selected for the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens.

Friday's events begin at 10 a.m. with the Duet Free Routine preliminary, which is free and open to the public. The first ticketed event is the Duet Technical Event at 6 p.m. Friday. The Olympic duet will be named Saturday following the Duet Free Routine Final at 5 p.m.

The Trials are exactly 573 days before the Opening Ceremonies of the 2004 Olympic Games. The early date is necessary to prepare the duet compete in four major international events prior to the Games - the 2003 FINA World Championships, 2003 Pan American Games, and 2004 FINA World Cup and Olympic Qualifying Open.

Also on the schedule will be the 2003 World Championships and Pan American Games Team Trials to be conducted Jan. 19-20.

The Olympic Trials will be broadcast tape-delayed at a time and date to be determined.

The WKCAC facility is located at 650 SW Campus Drive in Federal Way, and has hosted more than a dozen national synchro competitions since the doors opened in 1990.

2003 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Synchronized Swimming Duet
Ticket Information

• Two ticketed sessions: Duet Tech., 6 p.m., Jan. 17; Duet Final, 5 p.m., Jan. 18
• One free session: Duet Free Preliminary, 10 a.m., Jan. 17
• Adults $10; Child $7.50 (1-14 yrs); Senior $7.50 (62+)
• Tickets on sale at WKCAC, M-F 7 a.m. - 8 p.m., or at the door
• Order by phone at 800-325-6165 x64444 (all tickets can be picked up at Will Call)
• VISA, MasterCard, cash or check are accepted
• No video cameras or recording devices will be permitted