Dubai to host 2013 world swimming championship

Dubai: Dubai won the bid to host the 2013 swimming world championships on Saturday beating Moscow and Hamburg. The announcement was made by Mustafa Larfaoui, president of Fina (the world body for the sport), on the second day of the world event currently under way in Rome.

Speaking to Gulf News from Rome, a thrilled Ahmad Al Falasi, president of the UAE Swimming Association (UAESA) said: "What can I say? I am speechless. I think it will take me one full day of rest to let this feeling sink in," before adding, "Today's triumph is the result of more than six years of hard and diligent work."

Al Falasi paid tribute to the vision and foresight of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. "It is Shaikh Mohammad's vision to stage the Olympic Games in 2020. But the staging of a Fina championship will be the first step in preparing Dubai for the task ahead."

Dubai had earlier entered the bidding process for the Fina World Swimming Championships on two occasions - in 2005 and then in 2007. "This time we were well prepared, but the best thing is that Fina believed in what are capable of," Al Falasi said.

Dubai polled 13 votes compared to the five won by Hamburg and the two drawn by Moscow.

Dubai earlier beat off stiff competition to win the right to stage the 2010 Fina World Swimming Championship (25 metres).

Really a big achievement!
Waqar
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: July 19, 2009, 15:11