QSA President Khaleel Al Jabir and FINA Vice-President Dale Neuburger.
FINA Vice-President Dale Neuburger yesterday was all praise for Qatar’s commitment to stage top-notch swimming events over the years, saying the efforts by the authorities are promoting the sport and yielding positive results.
Doha – home to 2014 World Championships - is hosting a FINA World Cup meet for the eighth successive year. The Qatari capital is also a regular venue for FINA Marathon Open Water Series and will host the 2023 FINA World Aquatics Championships – the sport’s flagship event.
The FINA Vice-President, who spoke at a pre-FINA Swimming World Cup Doha 2019 press conference at the Hamad Aquatic Centre, said the Qatari organisers have always been hospitable.
“It’s a great pleasure to be here. We have always been treated with great dignity, great respect, great care and attention by Khaleel (Al Jabir) and his colleagues, QSA, Qatar Olympic Committee and all the authorities,” Neuburger said yesterday.
“I came here for the first time in 2005 and since then Doha events have been blessed with great organisation and fantastic facilities. It’s been 15 years of great swimming competitions in Doha.
“In 2023, FINA World Championships will be held in Doha again, representing great partnership between FINA and QSA.
“It’s been a pleasure to watch the evolution in development of aquatics sports in Qatar,” he added.
This year, the FINA World Cup in Doha is witnessing a significant increase in the number of participants as 210 swimmers representing 44 countries besides 60 club swimmers are participating in the three-day event.
Last year, 130 swimmers from 23 countries came for the Doha stop.
QSA President, FINA Bureau Member and Organising Committee Chairman, Khaleel Al Jabir expressed his delight for the increase in number of athletes and participating countries.
“I would like to welcome all the swimmers and wish them success. We are happy to host the final meet of the FINA World Cup and cluster 3. The QSA is delighted that the number of participants has increased than the last year. This is what we were looking for,” said Al Jabir.
“I would like to thank all our colleagues who are making these events successful with their hard work and commitment,” the QSA President added.
