Doha gets set to host FINA World Cup meet for 10th time
Doha (QAT), 03.10.2021: Qatar Swimming Association (QSA) is confident of hosting a successful event as Doha gears up to complete 10 years of hosting the FINA World Cup meets. The Qatari capital – the third stop for the FINA Swimming World Cup 2021 – will stage the competition from October 21 to 23 at the Hamad Aquatic Centre, Aspire Zone. The four-meet series started in Berlin (GER) on October 1 and will move to Budapest (HUN) where swimmers will compete from October 7 to 9. The FINA World Cup 2021 will conclude in Kazan (RUS), which will host the fourth and final event from October 28 to 30. It will be a special occasion for QSA – FINA’s long-time partner – as Doha will achieve a new milestone in its rich history of hosting major swimming events. QSA first organized the World Cup in 2012 and since then it has been staging the meets of this event, except for the last year when COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the FINA calendar. “We are delighted to be a part of FINA World Cup for the 10th time. It is an honour for us to achieve this milestone as FINA partner for this prestigious event. Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, my team is confident of hosting another successful World Cup meet in Doha,” QSA President Mr. Khaleel Al-Jabir said in a statement. The upcoming World Cup event is also seen as a precursor of 25m-pool competitions for the FINA World Championships 2023 to be held in Doha. Mr. Al-Jabir, meanwhile, also thanked sponsors for their support with a special mention of Qatar National Bank (QNB) - the National Sponsor for the Doha World Cup meet. “I want to thank our sponsors particularly the QNB, which is supporting us since our first meet in 2011, helping us succeed in our mission to promote swimming in the entire region,” he said. Doha has been welcoming world’s top-ranked swimmers over the years and for this event too; the city is expected to attract a star-studded field as all the four stops will act as qualifying events for the 15th FINA World Swimming Championships (25m). The competition will be held in Abu Dhabi (UAE) from December 16 to 21, 2021. Meanwhile, QSA will strictly follow the safety measures, designed to protect health and wellbeing of all the athletes and officials, during the World Cup meet. Doha has safely played host to several major events in 2021 including the FINA Marathon Swim World Series 2021 Doha (QAT) at Katara in March and the GCC Aquatics Championships at the Hamad Aquatic Centre in August. The Qatari capital was also the venue for the FINA General Congress 2021, which was held in June. QSA Secretary-General Mr. Talal Al Darwish said: “We will strictly follow the health safety measures as recommended by the Ministry of Public Health to protect health of all the stakeholders during this World Cup meet. We look forward to organizing the event in a befitting manner once again.