Doha delivers ‘greatest’ FINA Worlds ever

By Sports Reporter/DohaQatar has written its name further into sporting history and enhanced its international reputation as a successful host of major sporting events with an astonishing 23 World Records set at the 12th FINA World Swimming Championships (25m) – more than at any other FINA World Swimming Championships (25m).The completion of the stunning five-day showpiece event featuring the leading swimmers in the world marks the fulfilment of a promise by the Local Organising Committee (LOC) to deliver an extraordinary world-class event, thrilling fans in Doha and every corner of the world in the process. In addition to all of the action in the pool, the LOC delivered a hugely successful Youth Programme, introduced at the 12th FINA World Swimming Championships for the very first time in a bid to inspire and support future generations of swimming stars. The initiative gave more than 350 promising young athletes and their coaches the opportunity to gain real and invaluable experience of a major international meet, sharing their expertise and experience with each other, as well as learning from the most talented coaches and athletes in the sport today.Speaking at the close of the event, Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, secretary general of the Qatar Olympic Committee and chairman of the Organizing Committee said: “In recent days Qatar has not only witnessed historic sporting moments, Qatar has helped create sporting history by giving all athletes the perfect environment in which to excel. To know that the 12th FINA World Swimming Championships have been the greatest in the event’s history fills me with great pride on behalf of the entire nation. This event showcases exactly what Qatar is capable of and establishes an even greater platform to host more world-class sporting occasions in the future. The Youth Programme that we introduced during this event for the first time has set the standard and we are committed to running similar programmes at every major event we host in the future. I would like to thank FINA for the opportunity and congratulate all involved from the athletes, to the officials, the Qatar Swimming Association and the organizing committee and the volunteers.”  Qatar Swimming Association president and Executive Director of Doha 2014 Khaleel al-Jabir said: “When we were entrusted by FINA and started out on our journey of hosting the FINA World Swimming Championships we had a vision, a commitment and an ambition to inspire a new generation of young swimming athletes in Qatar, in the region and around the world. Our aim was to take the sport to a new height in the Middle East and firmly placed Doha at the centre of the swimming world. And I believe we have done just that. We have closed one proud chapter in our sporting history. But in the last week having hosted the 3rd FINA World Aquatics Convention as well as the FINA World Swimming Championships Youth Programme, we look forward to the next chapter and even brighter future for swimming.”