Athletes praise World Aquatics Championships – Doha 2024 as historic event comes to a close

Doha: The World Aquatics Championships – Doha 2024 drew to a close today following two weeks of exhilarating competition as athletes praised the record-breaking event held in Qatar for the first time.Across 17 days of competition in six aquatic sports, more than 2,300 athletes from a record 204 countries and a refugee team competed at the Aspire Dome, Hamad Aquatic Centre and the Old Doha Port.The Championships reinforced Doha’s position as a world-leading host of outstanding sports events and is set to leave a lasting legacy for aquatics in Qatar and beyond.Athletes from more than 30 different countries won medals with the People’s Republic of China leading the medals table as the aquatics world united in Doha - the first city in the region to host the prestigious tournament. Competitors from across the six aquatic sports commented positively on their experience, highlighting the facilities which allowed them to perform to their best.Katie Shortman, who won silver for Great Britain in artistic swimming, said: "We just want to say that we love Qatar and have loved being here. The sports facilities are incredible, and it is wonderful to compete here.”Canadian swimmer and medallist Ingrid Wilm added: "It’s a great experience. You can tell that Doha put a lot of work into this. It’s pretty incredible to be swimming here and see all they’ve done. I especially love having two options for outdoor or indoor pool warm-up.”The high diving at the Old Doha Port proved popular with packed stands for the men’s and women’s competition, and four-time Australian world champion Rhiannan Iffland was effervescent in her praise."It’s not often that we have a place as comfortable as this to dive with all the platforms and everything. It’s really been a fabulous location,” she said.World Aquatics President Husain al-Musallam and Singapore 2025 Co-Chair Mark Chay attended a handover ceremony alongside His Excellency, Vice Chairperson of the Organising Committee of Doha 2024, Jassim bin Rashid al-Buainain, and Director General, Khaleel al-Jaber, ahead of the final swimming session, where the power of peaceful competition was emphasised.Jassim bin Rashid al-Buainain thanked the athletes for their performances and assured them that they have helped ensure that a lasting legacy will be left in the region.Speaking at the handover ceremony, he said: "Since Doha has won the host rights of the World Aquatic Championships – Doha 2024, the Local Organizing Committee in cooperation with key sectors of the country joined efforts to organize a successful and memorable event at all levels. This Championship has proved that sport is a significant factor of unity and peace, and also showed us a humanitarian message when we saw refugee team athletes were part of the event. This Championship has mixed between competition and noble sportsmanship, where everyone spoke the language of unity, solidarity, and synergy in the way of the Olympic Charter.World Aquatics President Husain al-Musallam said: "Doha has been an outstanding home for our athletes and our aquatics family. The venues are absolutely superb. Our athletes have loved competing here, and I know that they would want me to give a very big thank you to all the organisers under the leadership of H.E. Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al-Thani for creating this magnificent aquatics palace. So much hard work is necessary to stage an event like this. I will always be grateful to every person here in Doha who has helped to turn all the plans into a reality. This is the first time that the World Aquatics Championships have been held in the Middle East, and I could not be more proud of the success. Qatar, thank you for showing the world once again that you are a remarkable destination for hosting major events.”