Over 70 of the world's fastest swimmers representing 22 countries are set to dive into the FINA Hosa 10km Marathon Swimming World Cup today on Abu Dhabi's Corniche, its organisers have said. The UAE capital marks round two on the World Cup calendar and is the richest race of the season.
Host organisers, the UAE Swimming Federation and Abu Dhabi Sports Council, have welcomed the world's greatest swimmers this week who have all now landed in Abu Dhabi.
The sport's legends have flown in this week for the marathon swimming led by World Champion and Argentinian celebrity swimmer, Claudio Plit and Germany's former World Champion, Britta Kamrau, and the top competitors include Brazil's 2014 World Cup Champion, Allan Do Carmo, team-mate and Olympian, Poliana Okimoto, and German ace, World Champion and Olympian, Thomas Lurz.
"We are thrilled to host the second round FINA Hosa 10km Marathon Swimming World Cup in Abu Dhabi this weekend. This is set to be the most exciting swimming competition in the history of the Emirate with 70 elite swimmers going shoulder to shoulder on Abu Dhabi's magnificent Corniche," said Abdulla Al Weheibi, the UAE Swimming Federation's General Secretary.
Cementing Abu Dhabi's status as a world-class destination for international sporting events, Talal Al Hashemi, Abu Dhabi Sports Council's Technical Affairs Director, went on to say, "Bringing world-class events such as the FINA Hosa 10km Marathon Swimming World Cup to Abu Dhabi is key in developing a sustainable model of the sport from the grassroots level up to elite. We are delighted that three of UAE's star swimmers, Yaaqoub Al Saadi, Ali Sbeit and Abdulla Hatem, will be on the starting line this Friday battling it out with some of the world's legends in the sport on home soil."
Setting the scene for this weekend's swimming extravaganza is Claudio Plit, Race Director of the FINA 10km Marathon Swimming World Cup in Viedma, Argentina. "I know how hard it is to stage a World Cup from managing the technical and safety elements to medical and logistics. I am sure this weekend's race will be very well-organised with host partners such as the Abu Dhabi Sports Council and the UAE Swimming Federation." Ensuring swimmers' safety this weekend is a team of FINA delegates, including technical, medical and safety, who have flown into Abu Dhabi to oversee the smooth running of the event.
The FINA Hosa 10km Marathon Swimming World Cup takes place just a week after the successful staging of the IPIC World Triathlon Abu Dhabi, hosted by the Abu Dhabi Sports Council.
"We continuously strive to introduce the world's most prestigious races to the people of the UAE. These international events are a fantastic way to expose young Emirati talents to the sport's best athletes whether in triathlon, swimming or other sports. We are proud to be a strong supporter of swimming and we look ahead to a bright future for the sport and for our stars of tomorrow," added Al Hashemi.
The FINA Hosa 10km Marathon Swimming World Cup Abu Dhabi will take place on a specially laid out course on the waters directly in front of the Abu Dhabi Sailing and Yacht Club on the Marina Mall breakwater.