The Fina Short Course World Swimming Championships will return to the UAE after Abu Dhabi was named as hosts for the 2020 edition.
Up against Peru’s Lima and Kazakhstan’s Almaty, the capital did enough to impress Fina officials, who made the announcement in Kazan, Russia, on Wednesday.
It will be the second time the UAE will stage the competition after Dubai hosted the 2010 edition at Hamdan Sports Complex.
Abu Dhabi are no strangers to holding Fina events, having held the opening leg of the 10km Marathon Swimming World Cup in March at the Corniche this year.
LIVE from #kazan2015: Abu Dhabi (UAE) will host the 2020 #FINAworlds (25m) #swimming + #FINAconvention
— FINA (@fina1908) July 22, 2015
And they will be keen to build on that success in a competition which will attract some of the world’s best swimmers just after the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.
One competitor who could be participating is Velimir Stjepanovic. The 21-year-old, born in Abu Dhabi, is one of the top swimmers based in the UAE and has competed in several top-class events. The Serbian was even involved in the 2010 edition in Dubai, missing out on medals as a 17-year-old.
And he is no doubt that the capital will put on a good show.
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“It’s extremlely good news and I have no doubt that it will help swimming become more popular in the country,” said Stjepanovic, who is preparing for next month’s World Championships in Kazan.
“Dubai put on a good show and I’m sure Abu Dhabi will do a great job as Dubai when they hosted it in 2010. I’m sure having hosted the competition in 2010, the UAE will want to up their stature and make it the best ever.”
Stjepanovic, who finished sixth in the 200m butterfly at the 2012 Olympic Games, could not hide his delight on what it would mean to compete in Abu Dhabi.
Looking forward to seeing @VelStjepanovic in #AbuDhabi in 2020 for the @fina1908 World Swimming Championship! pic.twitter.com/oBKKEr46MA
— Sport360° (@Sport360) July 22, 2015
“To compete would mean a lot. I was quite young in 2010 and didn’t make any finals but I will have a second chance to compete in Abu Dhabi and hopefully win a medal in basically what is my home country, having lived her for the past 21 years,” he said.
He added: “The competition is still five years away. But I’m going to approach every tournament how I do every time and prepare myself to the best of my ability.
“I want to race my own race rather than racing and seeing what other people are doing. It’s important to swim to the best of my ability and I’m sure there will be a lot fans supporting me.”
