The 2018 FINA/HOSA 10km Marathon Swim World Series’ last leg and the FINA High Diving World Cups have drawn more than 180 entries from over 30 countries at the Abu Dhabi Sailing and Yacht Club (ADSYC) at the breakwater on November 9 and 10.
ABU DHABI, (Pakistan Point News - 06th Nov, 2018) The 2018 FINA/HOSA 10km Marathon Swim World Series’ last leg and the FINA High Diving World Cups have drawn more than 180 entries from over 30 countries at the Abu Dhabi Sailing and Yacht Club (ADSYC) at the breakwater on November 9 and 10.
Some of the top swimmers in fray are; the 2017 Men’s World Champion and 2016 Olympic Gold Medallist Ferry Weertman of Netherlands, the 2017 Women’s World Champion Aurelie Muller of France, and the 2016 Women’s Olympic Gold Medallist Sharon van Rouwendaal of the Netherlands.
Dr. Julio C. Maglione, the President of FINA, the governing body for aquatics worldwide, praised Abu Dhabi as a venue and its organisation of the event.
"Abu Dhabi has always been an excellent host to the participants," he said. "The facilities here are excellent and we are looking forward to another memorable event."
The 10km World Series event is hosted by Abu Dhabi Sports Council (ADSC) and the UAE Swimming Federation in association with FINA.
ADSC is using the competition as a platform for inspiration by hosting an Open Water Community Swim for which swimmers of all ages and abilities can get involved.
"The Community Swim is a testament to Abu Dhabi’s vision to inspire the community to lead a healthy lifestyle, highlighting swimming as a great sport for fitness," said Aref Al Awani, Secretary General of ADSC.
"To bring these events to Abu Dhabi gives ADSC the opportunity to showcase the capital as a centre for sporting excellence and inspire the local community to get more involved in swimming activities and aquatic sports."
The competition will comprise of separate races for Men and Women, staged on Day-1 on Friday. In each of the events, world ranking points will be awarded to the swimmers depending upon their race finishing positions.
The race series include nine legs that take place in some of the world’s most scenic waterways across six different countries including the UAE, Argentina, Hungary, Canada, China and Hong Kong.
The High Diving World Cup will include two separate events on its program: a men's competition in two rounds and a women's competition in two rounds. The men will perform dives from a 27m platform and the women from a 20m platform.
The High Diving field includes international superstars: 2017 Men’s World Champion Steve LoBue of the United States and 2017 Women’s World Champion Rhiannan Iffland of Australia.
Sultan Saif Al Samahi, President of the UAE Swimming Federation, said they are delighted to host the event for a third successive year.
"Like many high-profile sporting events, the FINA events are now well established in Abu Dhabi," he said.
"They are inspiration to our youth as well as draw swimmers of all ages and levels to participate in our Open Water Swim that takes place on the same morning on November 9."
The community races will consist of a 1.9 km, 1 km, 500 m open water swim and 200 m splash and dash.
"There will be a full water safety team available around the course and all amateur participants will be granted a participation certificate," added Al Samahi.
