Melbourne organisers defend hosting of worlds

Organisers of the World Championships have defended the decision to stage the event after a former premier of the host state described the project as "money down the pool".

Former Victorian Premier Jeff Kennett said the city had bid for the biennial event for the sake of it and would attract little interest despite the prospects of considerable Australian success in the pool at Rod Laver Arena.

But incumbent Premier Steve Bracks, who succeeded Kennett in 1999, said ticket sales were on target and expected the championships to at least break even.

"The swimming worlds are among the top four to five events in the world," Bracks said.

"It's one billion people who'll see the event. It brings enormous audience reach, enormous profile. Things that other countries crave to get, that other states crave to get."

He said 102,000 tickets had already been sold and hoped that figure would double before the opening ceremony on March 17.

The 12th FINA World Championships run until April 1.