Six days of swimming competition come to a close today in Abu Dhabi with the staging of the final day of the 15th FINA World Swimming Championships (25m).
Being held at Abu Dhabi’s multi-purpose Etihad Arena from 16th to 21st December 2021, the event has featured the world’s best short course swimmers along with an aquatics festival featuring open water swimming and diving events staged by the Abu Dhabi Sports Council (ADSC).
Abu Dhabi’s first hosting of a FINA event, the Championships have consisted of 44 different swimming events featuring men’s and women’s events in all four strokes - freestyle, breaststroke, backstroke, and butterfly - along with the individual medley and relays.
The event has seen world records broken along with the unfortunate withdrawal of some competing nations and athletes.
FINA advised as the Championships started that any athlete who tested positive for COVID-19 would not be able to compete due to rules set out by the United Arab Emirate’s Department of Health.
The emergence of the Omicron Coronavirus variant has caused global concern, with countries implementing further travel restrictions.
Speaking last Wednesday (15th December), FINA President Husain Al-Musallam revealed that seven nations had withdrawn due to the impact of Omicron.
However, Al-Musallam expressed his "full confidence" in the countermeasures put in place in Abu Dhabi and spoke of his pride in the participation of more than 1,000 athletes from 183 nations.
Abu Dhabi was originally scheduled to stage the event last year only for it to be postponed to 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The Championships have been hosted in parallel with the FINA World Aquatics Convention also taking place on Yas Island.
Image: The competition pool - supplied and constructed by Myrtha Pools used for the 15th FINA World Swimming Championships. Credit: Myrtha Pools.
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29th June 2021 - Live concerts to return to Abu Dhabi’s Yas Island from July
25th May 2021 - Remainder of Pakistan Super League season to be played in Abu Dhabi
8th January 2021 - Abu Dhabi’s new Etihad Arena to open with fans in attendance for UFC fights
17th March 2020 - Coronavirus fears delays opening of Etihad Arena
10th January 2020 - Etihad Airways takes on naming rights for new Abu Dhabi entertainment venue
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29th January 2018 - 2018 FINA World Aquatics Convention to be staged in Hangzhou
14th January 2018 - 17th FINA World Championships venue wins at International Sport Awards
3rd October 2016 - FINA World Cup hosting a precursor to UAE World Aquatics Championships bid?
7th June 2016 - Registrations open for 2016 FINA World Aquatics Convention
2nd July 2015 - Australia drops plans to host 2021 and 2023 FINA World Championships
13th May 2014 - FINA World Convention to unite the world of aquatics
1st November 2021 - Myrtha Pools contribute to successful Arab Swimming Championships
7th August 2019 - World Swimming Championships marks 10 years of partnership between FINA and Myrtha Pools
12th October 2021 - World swimming body FINA to establish integrity unit
10th June 2021 - Husain Al-Musallam installed as new FINA President
18th September 2021 - International Swimming League accused of ongoing financial mismanagement by former executives
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