Du Feu, who was head coach in 2003 for the Paris event, has accepted the role of manager which will take him to Belgrade for the opening ceremony on 21 July.
Delighted ‘I was delighted about the appointment,’ said du Feu.
‘The event takes place every two years and there are around 48 nations involved so it is very much an international competition and all my phone calls and hassle will come from Olympic officials.
‘In Belgrade my job is to make things as easy as I can for this year’s coach, and having coached in 2003 I have a good idea as to what will be required.
It also helps that I’m an absolute organisational freak – sometimes I think I’m better at organising than coaching!’ With a busy few weeks of swimming coming up, du Feu is looking forward to the Nationals at the end of the month, but following that he will be following the efforts of AIB Tigers swimmer JJ Gallichan who has been selected for the South of England team in this year’s UK Schools Games.
The event, which starts on 23 August, is held in Coventry and will be Gallichan’s first team swim at this level as part of a big squad.
‘He was selected based on his southern counties performance this year but we aren’t sure what events he will be swimming until the whole team has been confirmed although I’m guessing it will be the 100m freestyle and some relays,’ explained du Feu.
‘It’s a good achievement for him and will be a useful experience competing on a large team with unfamiliar swimmers and management.
I remember Simon Militis going to Canada with the South of England team while Natalie Bree went to Luxembourg and it is a good step up for county representatives.’
