More than 500 swimmers are expected to converge on Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) in Worcester Dec. 11-13 for U.S. Masters Swimming's New England LMSC Short Course Meters Championship.

This is the first year that Worcester Area Masters (WAM) will host this highly anticipated annual meet. Worcester, New England's second largest city, is truly the heart of the Commonwealth. Centrally located to all of New England, the city is just one hour from Boston, Springfield, Hartford, Providence and Nashua, and easily accessible via mass transit.

Worcester is "A City on the Move" with attractions far beyond the sparkling new pool and free parking at WPI's Sports and Recreation Center. Great restaurants and bars will be offering special deals to swimmers, Cirque du Soleil's TORUK will be flying high in the DCU Center all weekend, and the Worcester Art Museum's world famous collection - including "Knights!" from the Higgins Armory collection - is on exhibit just down the street. The Massachusetts Symphony Orchestra performs its holiday pops concert Saturday at Mechanics Hall, metal lovers can hear the Acadia Strain at the Palladium, and other nearby museums include the Ecotarium science museum, the Worcester Historical Museum, and the historic Salisbury Mansion.

Several of the city's hotels are offering reduced rates for swimmers who book before November 7.

The meet has been designated as the Colonies Zone SCM championship meet with swimmers from Virginia to Maine competing. For the first time in several years, the 1500 meter freestyle is being offered as one of the meet's 24 events.

Entries are now open. They close Monday, November 30. No late entries will be accepted. To register, visit the meet website.