Friday, 11 May 2012:

Gold Coast will play host to swimming powerhouse the United States after the city was selected to host the 2014 Pan Pacific Championships.

Swimming Australia and the Queensland Government announced on Friday the event would return to Australia for the first time since it was held in Sydney in 1999.

The Pan Pacs, held every four years, bring together the best swimmers from Australia, the US, Canada, Japan, Brazil and New Zealand and will form a key part of the Dolphins' build-up to the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

It will also act as a test event for Gold Coast's hosting of the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

SA president David Urquhart said the decision to hold the event in Queensland was a fantastic reward for a strong swimming state.

"We are extremely grateful for the support of the Queensland Government in securing this event and we know Queensland will be a great place for these top nations to compete and visit," Urquhart said.

"Brisbane hosted a successful Pan Pacs at Chandler in 1987, and Sydney used the meet as an Olympic test event in 1999.

"This will be the third time Australia has hosted the event and where better for our athletes to compete than in their home state for many of them."

More than 60 per cent of Australia's swim team for the London Olympics, is based in Queensland.

An exact venue for the event is yet to be decided.

AAP