Dubai: The UAE national swimming team have left for Romania for a six-week training camp.
The trip is aimed at preparing both the men's and youth teams for forthcoming events - the international championships in Egypt, the Arab youth tournament in Morocco, the Asian youth meet in Indonesia and the Pan-Arab Games in Egypt.
Saeed Al Hamour, deputy chairman of the swimming association, will head the delegation to Europe, along with Juma Al Gailany, manager of the national teams, technical manager Gay Bainier from the US, trainers Mahmoud Sami and Ahmad Sami. The swimmers travelling are: Omar Al Hamadi, Majid Al Hamady, Rashid Al Muhairi, Fahmi Al Meskari, Ghailany Juma, Abdul Aziz Farhoud, Abdullah Al Buloshy, Ahmad Al Hoasany, Rashid Al Qaabi, Abdullah Suliman, Walid Nasieb and Ali Sibait.
Four athletes - Ayoub Salim, Mohammad Eisa Darwish, Mubarak Salim and Obaid Ahmad Obaid - couldn't leave with the team due to personal conditions, but will join the training camp during this week.
Al Hamour believes the extensive training schedule will be of huge benefit to the UAE swimmers.
"We will work hard during the external training camp to prepare our swimmers in a good condition," said Al Hamour.
"Taking part in Asian and Arab tournaments needs a lot of hard work, so we can compete to win medals."
The UAE youngsters take part in the Arab youth tournament in Morocco from August 2-5.
The men's team will travel to Cairo to take part in the Egypt international championships from August 15-18.
The youth team will then travel to Indonesia to participate in the Asian youth championships in the middle of August.
The programme is rounded off by the senior team's participation in the Pan-Arab Games in Egypt in November.
