2024 World Aquatics Championships

2024 World Aquatics Championships
The 2024 World Aquatics Championships, the 21st edition of the World Aquatics Championships, will be held in Doha, Qatar, from 2 to 18 February 2024. Originally scheduled to be held in November 2023, the championships were postponed until February 2024 in response to the rescheduling of the 20th edition of the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, from 2021 to 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and then again to 14 to 30 July 2023 due to travel restrictions and safety measures in place in Japan.
It is the first time the World Aquatics Championships will be staged in the Middle East. Doha staged the World Aquatics Swimming Championships (25m) in 2014, and has also staged nine legs of the World Aquatics Swimming World Cup series between 2012 and 2021.
A number of swimmers and member federations have expressed concerns regarding the timing of these championships, given they take place just five months before the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
Host selection
On 9 June 2015, World Aquatics (then FINA) reported it had received expressions of interest for the 2021 and 2023 FINA World Championships from Argentina, Australia (Melbourne or Sydney), China (Wuhan or Nanjing), Germany (two potential cities), Japan, Turkey and Qatar. On 30 June 2015, an information meeting was organised for the nations and cities which had shown interest in bidding. This meeting was attended by representatives of cities from six countries: Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates), Buenos Aires (Argentina), Istanbul (Turkey), Nanjing (China), Fukuoka (Japan), Doha (Qatar). Bidding cities were then asked to present FINA with an executed Host City Agreement by October 26, 2015, and to make a formal presentation to the FINA Bureau on November 8, 2015. Australia and Germany were the first two countries to quit the bidding race and were followed by Argentina. Two others, Turkey and United Arab Emirates, had also shown interest, but withdrew before the presentation stage. With all other interested cities formerly withdrawing, on October 2, 2015, FINA executive director Cornel Marculescu confirmed there were three final bidders: Nanjing (China), Fukuoka (Japan), and Doha (Qatar).
On 31 January 2016, each of the bids were presented in a formal presentation at the FINA Bureau meeting in Budapest. After a vote, FINA announced Fukuoka as 2021 hosts and Doha as 2023 hosts.
In a press release issued on the same day, FINA President Julio Maglione stated: “Today we were presented three extraordinary bids fulfilling all requirements and having great facilities. Both winning cities, Fukuoka and Doha, are strong partners of FINA and will offer optimal conditions for the organisation of these Championships. There is a very strong commitment from the local authorities to welcome this event in their respective dynamic metropolis.”
Secretary General of Qatar Olympic Committee, Thani Al Kuwari, who led the Doha delegation, stated: “The FINA Family has been many times in Doha and everyone knows our true passion for organising top-events. Sport is an important tool for the development of our youth and of our country. Hosting the FINA World Championships for the first time in Middle East will be a great way to develop Aquatics on a global scale.”
Venues
Three of the six disciplines have been announced to be staged at the Aspire Dome, built for the 2006 Asian Games and host venue of the World Aquatics Swimming Championships (25m) in 2014.
Aspire Dome (swimming, artistic swimming and water polo)
Hamad Aquatic Centre (water polo and diving)
Old Doha Port (open water swimming, high diving)
Mascots
On 20 September 2023 the mascots were announced as: Nahim, a Qatari whale shark, and Mayfara, a coral.
The press release from World Aquatics stated: “Nahim and Mayfara are intimately tied to Qatar’s heritage and represent the inclusivity of the World Aquatics Championships and its commitment to promoting sustainability. The whale shark is the world’s biggest fish and commonly found in the safety of Qatari waters. The gentle giant, Nahim, a funny, friendly, and fun character that will be on hand to entertain the crowds and ensure everyone is made to feel welcome in Doha. Mayfara reflects the vibrancy and diversity of the coral ecosystem with a family of clownfish living in her fringe anemone and a laid-back starfish on her forehead. A great team player, Mayfara will raise awareness about the importance of protecting our oceans and help to light up the World Aquatics Championships - Doha 2024.”
Schedule
A total of 75 medal events will be held across six disciplines.
References
External links
Official website
2024
2024 in multi-sport events
World Championships, 2024
2024 in Qatari sport
Sports events postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2024 World Aquatics Championships