Doha: Swimming fans can rejoice as tickets for swimming’s season finale, the 12th FINA World Swimming Championships (25m), go on sale at Virgin Megastores and tickets.virginmegastore.me.
The event will be held between December 3 and 7 at the Hamad Aquatic Centre here.
Qatar will play host to the world’s best swimmers as they compete for World Championship glory. This year’s FINA World Swimming Championships is already proving to be a must-see event as more than 1,000 swimmers have already expressed their interest to compete — more than any other World Championships in the past.
The five days of thrilling competition will see 46 medal events with morning heats starting at 9:30am and the finals starting at 6pm.
Category A tickets start from QR 20 for the morning heats and QR 40 for the evening finals. Category B starts at QR 10 for the morning heats and QR 20 for the finals. Doors will open at 8am each morning for fans.
Previous victors at the FINA World Swimming Championships include US Olympic gold medallist Ryan Lochte, who took home six gold medals at the last Championships in 2012.
Olympic champion Chad le Clos of South Africa and multiple world record holder Katinka Hosszu of Hungary are among the top those athletes already looking forward to a return to Doha.
Roland Schoeman of South Africa, Daniel Gyurta of Hungary, Mireia Belmonte of Spain, Marieke D’Cruz of Australia and other key athletes from Germany, Italy, Russia, China, Japan and the Netherlands are also expected to compete.
Australia’s D’Cruz, who had a stand out run during the FINA Mastbank Swimming World Cup in Doha this August, said: “It’s always good to get on the podium, but I want to be higher up it in December. I’m feeling quick and I’ll be back for the World Championships, better than ever.”
Speaking ahead of the competition, Khalil Al Jaber, President of Qatar Swimming Association and CEO of Doha 2014, said: “This year’s FINA World Swimming Championships is a must-attend event. It is a once-in-a-lifetime chance for sports fans, families and those new to swimming. It is an opportunity to witness the world’s best athletes competing at the highest level. We’ve already seen world records crumble at Hamad Aquatic Centre in the FINA Mastbank Swimming World Cup hosted here in August, so we know what kind of performances the athletes are capable of here in Doha. Without a doubt this December’s world championships will be another action-packed event that no one should miss.”
The buzz of the tournament is not just confined to the swimming pool. The FINA Market Street fun zone located just outside Hamad Aquatic Centre will ensure the ultimate family fun day out with interactive activities for all ages. Stage performances, appearances from Bahoor, the official mascot, an Arabian-themed chill out food and beverage zone and even camel rides can be found at FINA Market Street. This year has been hailed as Qatar’s year of swimming. For the first time in FINA’s history, a city has hosted both a World Cup event and a World Championships event, showcasing the country’s growing commitment to swimming and highlighting the importance of this event for world class swimmers.
Directly ahead of the World Championships, Doha will host the 3rd FINA Aquatics Convention, putting itself at the centre of the sport’s development.
The convention will run from November 29 to December 1 and will provide a platform for industry leaders and decision makers to facilitate and support sustainable growth of aquatic sports throughout the world.
The convention will be hosted at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel here. The conference includes the FINA Extraordinary Congress, a session to determine future innovations and rule changes in the sport, and the 2nd FINA Gold Swimming Coaches Clinic, a knowledge-sharing opportunity for top-level coaches.
Doha is also showing its commitment to the future of swimming through the Youth Programme, a five-day event where 350 elite young swimmers will be given the opportunity to experience the FINA Swimming World Championships first hand, gaining exposure to major international events and familiarising themselves with competition week format. Organised by Qatar Olympic Committee and FINA, the Youth Programme will
bring together the swimmers of tomorrow with the talent and coaches of today.
THE PENINSULA
