99 athletes from 27 countries have confirmed their participation in the inaugural meeting of the season at Katara Beach on March 13th.
The Qatar Swimming Association organizes the event, following the precautionary measures imposed to limit the spread of the Corona virus.
Qatar (Doha) 03.03.2021: The Qatar Swimming Association will host long-distance swimmers, who will compete over a distance of 10 km at the 2021 World Open Water Swimming Championships Doha (Qatar) to be held at Katara Beach on March 13.
The season-opening meeting will feature 99 swimmers - 66 men and 33 women - along with 65 technical staff from 27 countries.
The French team will join the largest representatives coming to the Qatari capital, with a total of 20 swimmers and 11 technicians. Italy will have 13 representatives from 13 swimmers for both races and 5 technicians.
The Qatar Swimming Association will organize the event by following all precautionary measures issued by the Ministry of Public Health and official authorities, in order to protect the health of the athletes and all participating individuals.
Qatar's organization of the Open Water Swimming World Cup, which was hosted by Doha for the first time in 2018, is an addition to Qatar as a valuable experience and expertise, as the Qatar Swimming Federation is preparing to organize the 2023 World Aquatics Championships.
For his part, Mr. Khalil Al Jaber, President of the Qatar Swimming Association, said: “We are preparing the best preparations for the athletes and competing officials as we have done over the years, despite facing unprecedented challenges due to the ongoing pandemic. This event will be another step for the Qatar Swimming Federation, towards organizing Successful for the 2023 World Aquatics Championships.
He said: "Federations from all over the world have confirmed their confidence in the organization of the Qatar Swimming Federation through their participation in the 2021 World Open Water Swimming Championships."
He added, "The event will be organized with taking precautionary measures and measures to counter the spread of COVID-19, as we will provide a safe environment for everyone in the competition, and the expected water temperature will be excellent for the competitors, so we are looking forward to an exciting race."
Mr. Talal Muhammad Al-Darwish - Secretary of the Qatar Swimming Federation
He said, "We are honored to organize the first meeting of the World Open Water Swimming Championships 2021. We are confident that we will organize and succeed in these difficult times."
He added, "The Qatar Swimming Association's arrangements are going as planned. Doha will organize another exciting open water swimming event in the presence of the long-distance swimming champions."
Several of the best swimmers have been confirmed to have participated in both races.
Olympic bronze medalist Marc-Antoine Olivier, who won in Doha last year, will defend his men's title against a strong squad that includes the 2019 World Aquatics Championships gold medalist Christoph Rasovsky (Hungary) (5km). ).
The other main contenders in the men's race will be Gregorio Paltrinieri (Italy), the Olympic and world long-track and short-track champion, and Olivet Knight (France).
The women's field is not without its stars, with open water marathon maestro Ana Marcela Cuna (Brazil), who triumphed in Doha in 2019.
Last year, Konha took second place behind Leonie Beck (Germany), who took her first title in the series, and Beck will also return to Doha as one of her favorite stops, where she finished second in 2018.
Other swimmers who have confirmed their participation in the women's race are: Rio Olympics silver medalist Rachel Bruni (Italy), Ariana Pride (Italy) - 25km winner at the 2018 European Aquatics Championships - and Lara Grangon De Ville (France).