Doha, 4 January 2024 - President of the Qatar Swimming Association and General Director of the World Aquatics Championships Doha 2024 Organizing Committee Khalil Al Jaber said that Doha was primed for the event scheduled from Feb. 2 to 18.
He told a press conference that the tournament would bring together over 2,500 players from more than 190 countries. They will compete in six sports, five them are Olympic sports: Swimming, Diving, Synchronized Swimming, Water Polo and High Diving.
The event, the first of its kind the Middle East, will be followed by the World Aquatics Masters Championship from Feb. 23 to Mar. 3, a qualification berth for the next Summer Olympic Games (Paris 2024).
The primary venues for the championship are the Aspire Dome, Hamad Aquatic Centre, and the Old Doha Port.
Al Jaber said the tournament would see many junior Qatari swimmers in action along with many veterans including Tunisia's Olympic champion Ahmed Hafnaoui - the winners of the mens 800m freestyle at the 2023 World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan.
Commenting on the event coinciding with the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023 due from Jan. 12 to Feb. 10, Al Jaber highlighted the continuous coordination between the organizing committees of the two tournaments to come out in the best possible way.
Al Jaber added that Doha would host the 2nd Arab Age Group Aquatics Championships from Jan. 10 - 15 that brings together 440 players from 16 countries in three sports. The event will serve as an opportunity to test the preparations and facilities before hosting the World Aquatics Championships.
Hosting such international tournaments develop the level of Qatari swimming, he added, highlighting that Qatar's annual host of rounds of Swimming World Cup from 2020 to 2021 boomed a major boomed the sport, surged the number of swimmers and left a positive impact on the national teams.
The close proximity of the venues for the event will enable fans to attend more than one game per day, he added.
Director of Marketing and Communications, Opening and Closing Ceremonies Committee at the World Aquatics Championships - Doha 2024 Sheikha Asma bint Thani Al-Thani said the ticket sale for various competitions and the opening ceremony started on the official website of the tournament.
She added that the registration application to attract approximately 2,000 volunteers from around the world was now open.
Travel packages including round-trip tickets, accommodation and domestic flights to Qatar's key tourist destinations have been launched in cooperation with Qatar Airways and Discover Qatar, Sheikha Asma said.
A fan zone would be available between the Aspire Dome and the Hamad Aquatics Complex, and several events would be held in the Old Doha Port during the tournament, she added.
