Doha: The Asian Swimming Youth Camp, which will be attended by the continent’s most promising emerging swimmers, kicks off in Doha today. It is being organised by the Olympic Council of Asia in association with the Qatar National Olympic Committee and FINA.
The camp, which will go on till June 28, will feature altogether 95 swimmers and coaches from 30 nations across Asia.
The programme comes just as
Doha is getting ready to host the FINA Swimming World Cup, FINA World Swimming Championships (25m) and FINA Aquatic Convention later this year.
The camp has been designed with a vision to bring together and inspire young athletes from emerging swimming nations. Officials from the Olympic Council Asia and FINA will also be in attendance.
The athletes will have the opportunity to train at the capital’s Hamad Aquatics Centre — the venue that will host the 12th FINA World Swimming Championships (25m) from December 3-7. The itinerary also includes a visit to the Anti-doping Laboratory Qatar, a world-class facility that conducts anti-doping test for athletes across the Gulf and Asia and is the only such facility in the Middle East region.
The President of the Qatar Swimming Association, Khaleel Al Jabir, said: “2014 is a very important year with Qatar set to host three major FINA events and Doha is ready to take centre stage in the swimming world. Apart from staging successful events to the highest global standards, we also have a responsibility to harness this opportunity to help the sport grow not only in Qatar, but all over Asia. With our partners — the Olympic Council of Asia, we are beginning that journey through the Asian Swimming Youth Camp.
“We want to give young swimmers the chance to train at world-class facilities, to come together and share their experiences and ambitions and to be inspired by the prestigious swimming events taking place in the region this year.”
Omar Hisham Omar, one of Qatar’s most promising young swimmers, said: “I’m looking forward to taking part in the Asian Swimming Youth Camp in Doha. It will be great to meet other young athletes from around the region who are doing the same thing as me. Who knows, we may be competing against each other at a World Championship someday!”
This year, the FINA World Swimming Championships (25m) will be held in Doha for the first time. The Hamad Aquatic Centre — the facility at the heart of Doha Sports City which previously hosted the 2006 Asian Games and the 2013 FINA Swimming World Cup — will welcome over 1000 elite swimmers representing over 180 countries for five days of competition.
In the build-up to the championship, Doha will also host the FINA Swimming World Cup on August 27 and 28 as well as the 3rd FINA Aquatics Convention from November 29 to December 1.
THE PENINSULA
