Matrooshi and Khatib to represent UAE at FINA World Championships

The Abu Dhabi Sports Council revealed the latest developments and preparations for hosting the FINA World Swimming Championships (25m) scheduled to take place at Yas Island’s hugely impressive Etihad Arena from Dec.16-21, along with the FINA World Aquatics Convention, highlighting Abu Dhabi as a global destination for major sporting events and competitions.

The announcement came during a press conference held at Emirates Palace on Tuesday, which was attended by Captain Husain Al Musallam, President of FINA, Aref Hamad Al Awani, Secretary General of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, Sultan Al Samahi, President of the UAE Swimming Federation, and Mohamed Al Zaabi, Chief Executive Officer of Miral Asset Management, along with Abdulla Alwheibi, Tournament Director, and Brent Nowicki, FINA Executive Director.

The conference also witnessed the presence of Issa Hilal Al-Hazami, Chairman of the Sharjah Sports Council, Osama Al Shafar, Member of the Federal National Council and President of the Asian Cycling Federation, Saeed Abdul Ghaffar, Secretary-General of the General Authority for Sports, Dirar Belhoul Al Falasi, Member of the Federal National Council, Vice President of the Emirates Sports Arbitration Center, Abdulmohsen Al Dosari, Deputy Secretary-General of the General Sports Authority, Fahad Ali Al Shamsi, Chief Executive Officer of the Emirates Jiu-Jitsu Federation, His Excellency Mohammed Al Zaabi, CEO of Miral Company, and Taha Al Kishry, FINA Bureau member, as well as members of the Higher Organising Committee of the championship.

The event saw the announcement of the two Emirati wildcard entrants who will represent the UAE at this year’s FINA World Swimming Championships (25m), Youssef Al Matrooshi, 18, and Layla Al Khatib, 14, as the first Emirati athletes to be selected raising the challenge to face elite international swimmers.

The duo, who were chosen by the UAE Swimming Federation, are two of the UAE’s most promising talents, having already achieved considerable success.

As well as being selected to compete in the World Championships (25m), Matrooshi has also been selected to represent the UAE in the 100m freestyle at the Tokyo Olympic Games, which begins in July.

Coinciding with this announcement, Abu Dhabi Sports Council also exclusively revealed the official event mascot for the competition - Dana the Hawksbill Turtle.

As strong swimmers displaying grace and power while underwater, the endangered Hawksbill Turtle, which is native to Abu Dhabi’s Saadiyat Island, is the perfect mascot for the FINA World Swimming Championships (25m).

The community programmes set to be implemented ahead of the event were also announced, including a Swim Safety Ambassador Programme, in which graduates can become a certified swim safety ambassador, and a Schools and Club Roadshow, which will feature appearances from Dana the Hawksbill Turtle, along with a virtual swimming activation providing an insight into the challenges faced by elite-level swimmers during championship races. There will also be activations at Yas Mall, Open Swim sessions and Olympic Watch Parties, while anybody wishing to get involved in the event can sign up to become a volunteer.

Originally scheduled for 2020, the FINA World Swimming Championships (25m) will feature men’s and women’s events in all four strokes - freestyle, breaststroke, backstroke, and butterfly - along with the individual medley and relays.

The FINA World Aquatics Convention will also be hosted on Yas Island in parallel, promising a swimming extravaganza in Abu Dhabi this December.

Musallam, newly elected FINA President, and a GCC national, said: “We have great faith and trust in Abu Dhabi’s plans for hosting the FINA World Swimming Championships (25m) later this year, and the announcement of the operational readiness, Emirati wildcard athletes and the official event mascot only adds to the sense of anticipation ahead of the event.

“Abu Dhabi has proved its long-term support and success in hosting major international events, and it will surely organise the FINA World Swimming Championships (25m) with success.”