Swimming fans across the Emirates would be happy to know that they can spend their weekend cheering on the likes of Chad le Clos and Oussama Mellouli at the Hamdan Sports Complex, as Dubai once again brings to town the prestigious FINA Swimming World Cup.
A host of the world’s very best swimmers have descended upon Dubai for the event this weekend – the fourth round of the eight-leg series – and there are going to be many fan favourites in the pool.
The event will see teams from 42 countries, including Australia, the USA and Poland, competing for honours, so show your patriotism as best you can if your country is in the fray.
Points are awarded for performances using a FINA scale which is based on the current world record time, and are accumulated over the eight legs of the series, with prize money for all medallists.
The overall top scorer in the men’s and women’s section at the end of the series will be pocketing a respectable $100,000 (Dh367,315). Organisers have also included special races for children on both days of the Dubai event to give them the opportunity to be part of the action.
The “Children’s World Cup” will feature 25m and 50m races, and is open to any child who can swim that distance.
Olympic and world champion le Clos returns to the emirate for the first time since he eclipsed Michael Phelps in the 200m butterfly at the London Olympics last year.
The star South African has always had a huge fan following in this city, where he tasted his first success in the 2010 World Short Course Championships, so be sure to come out and put in a crowd effort to remind him why he loves us so much.
Following his London triumph over Phelps, the 21-year-old won two gold medals at the World Championships in Barcelona last July and comes to Dubai fresh off a four-gold medal haul in the Moscow leg of the Swimming World Cup series last weekend.
Meanwhile Mellouli, a crowd favourite who is known to transform the stands around the pool into a football-like cheering frenzy, returns to the Hamdan Sports Complex for the first time since 2010.
The history-making Tunisian is the first person to ever win Olympic medals inside the pool and in open water.
Hungary’s world champion and world record holder Katinka Hosszu, who is last year’s overall champion of the series, will also be in the mix after picking up 10 medals in leg three in Moscow.
“With so many of the entrants for the Dubai leg of the FINA Swimming World Cup in such great form, the competition is sure to be thrilling,” said Ahmed Al Falasi, President of the UAE Swimming Association.
The FINA Swimming World Cup will begin on Thursday October 17 with heats in the morning on both days starting at 10:00.
The opening ceremony will be held at 17:00 on Thursday, with the finals on both nights being contested from 17:30.
Tickets to the event will be available at the door at the Hamdan Sports Complex, which is located on Emirates Road (E611). All details, including information on the Children’s World Cup, can be found on the Facebook page: FINASWC13Dubai.
WHAT: The 2013 FINA Swimming World Cup WHEN: This Thursday 17th and Friday 18th October, with heats commencing from 10:00 VENUE: Hamdan Sports Complex, Emirates Road COST: Starting from Dh20 AGES: All ages welcome Sport360 VERDICT: This is a world-class meet with plenty of inspiring, young talent in action – the whole family’s got to see this. CONTACT: 04 2648717; Facebook: FINASWC13Dubai
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