ROME - THE open water programme at the 2009 World Aquatic Championships here has been delayed by two days due to a storm damaging the start and finish wharf, organisers said on Saturday.

The open water programme was due to begin on Sunday morning with the women's 5km race followed by the men's 5km but those will now both be held on Tuesday.

Tuesday's women's 10km and Wednesday's men's 10km will both be held Thursday while both 25km races, initially scheduled for Thursday and Saturday, will be held on Saturday.

Organisers had initially also looked into the possibility of using a different location but in the end it was decided to postpone.

Overnite storms and high sea waters on Saturday made the wharf at Ostia, a coastal town near Rome, unusable.

'Unfortunately last night there was a storm that completely damaged the wharf used for the start and finish,' said Italy coach Massimo Giuliani.

'I don't think it will be possible to race tomorrow.' -- AFP