City of Doha (Qatar) will host FINA 25M Swimming Championships in December 2014
Lausanne (SUI), April 4, 2012 – FINA, together with the Qatar Olympic Committee and the Qatar Swimming Association, has the pleasure to announce that following the decision of the FINA Bureau, the City of Doha (QAT) has been awarded the organisation of the 12th FINA World Swimming Championships (25m), in December 2014.
“We are very pleased to have the 12th FINA World Swimming Championships (25m) in 2014 in the outstanding Aspire Sport Complex, and its Aquatic Centre, in Doha. I am sure that all swimmers, coaches, officials, and representatives of the participating National Federations will enjoy a great competition and be impressed by the Qatari hospitality”, considered FINA President Dr. Julio C. Maglione.
"It is a great honour for Doha to be awarded these championships by FINA. Swimming is an important and popular sport in Qatar and we will give a special welcome to the athletes, fans and officials in 2014.
"Working with FINA and hosting the championships is a further sign of our commitment to the development of sports in Qatar and across the Middle East. We are investing in sport at every level and we promise to deliver a great event", HE Sheikh Saoud Bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, Secretary General of Qatar Olympic Committee told.
Mr. Khaleel Al-Jabir, President of Qatar Swimming Association added: “We are delighted with this decision which fits well with our commitment to FINA's global events programme and the development of Swimming in Qatar.
"This a real boost to our plans for the sport here in Qatar and also a great platform to further develop Swimming in the region".
Before Doha, the 2012 edition of these championships, gathering the best 25m-pool swimmers in even years, will be staged in Istanbul (TUR), from December 12-16.
ADDITIONAL NOTES:
LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND--FINA today has announced that the 2014 Short Course Worlds will now be held in Doha, Qatar. The Aquatics Centre in the Aspire Sport Complex is listed as the venue for the event; the venue that hosted Swimming at the 2006 Asian Games is in the same complex.
Doha replaces Catania, Italy as host of the event. Catania's hosting of the event was put into question last November, when the Italian Swimming Federation withdrew its support of the city as host. Catania was originally named host of the event in December 2010.
FINA's announcement of Doha as the host for the 2014 Short Course Worlds can be found on the FINA website here:
http://www.fina.org/H2O/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2817
