Final moments very crucial for UAE bid

UAE officials campaigning for a successful hosting bid for the 2007 FINA World Swimming Championships here see the last few hours before voting as the most crucial period.

"I have been meeting with various FINA officials as much as orientating my own team," Ahmed Al Falasi, vice president of the UAE Swimming Association told Gulf News from Barcelona yesterday.

"We have been busy meeting up with officials from FINA who are connected with the championship when the three bids come up for voting tomorrow (Saturday)," Al Falasi said.

The UAE is competing against Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) and Melbourne (Australia) to stage this prestigious competition four years' time.

"The last minute deliberations and discussions are the most crucial, and I think we have been doing a good job in portraying the UAE as the ideal venue for such an event," Al Falasi added.

The stall put up by the UAE bidding committee at the venue has been receiving a lot of positive response and officials from the country hope to get the sanction from the 22-member FINA board today.

The formal bids presentation by the UAE, Rio de Janeiro and Melbourne will be held at the Grand Marina Hotel in Barcelona today. The 10th FINA World Championships will be held in Barcelona from tomorrow till July 27.

"We're just happy to be here. We get a chance to be ambassadors on behalf of the UAE. It's a privilege," Al Falasi said.

"Everyone is in agreement that our display is the most impressive. We have worked hard to put together a bid to make the UAE proud and we hope that FINA will show faith in us by presenting us with the 2007 FINA World Championships," he added.

The UAE has got the backing of top Arab members, including Egypt and Kuwait for the voting later today. "Let's wait and hope for the best during the voting tomorrow," Al Falasi stated.