DUBAI // Dubai's preparation for the short-course World Swimming Championships in 2010 is "excellent", according to Fina, the international governing body of swimming. A delegation from Fina is visiting to assess progress. "We are extremely happy with the facilities Dubai Sports Council and the UAE Swimming Association have already here, and what they are planning to build," said Cornel Marculescu, the Fina executive director and head of the delegation.
Two of the five scheduled swimming pools, at Al Shabab and Al Wasl clubs, were finished "ahead of schedule" and the other three - at Al Nasr, Al Ahli and Dubai clubs - are to be completed by year-end. "We are hoping for great games as we are extremely happy with what we have seen here, and Dubai, for its efforts, deserves to have a successful world cup," said a spokesman for Fina. He praised the "great co-operation" from the UAE Swimming Association and the Dubai Sports Council (DSC), with which Fina will meet this week to discuss marketing strategy, hospitality, travel arrangements and other details.
"Fina will look at all our plans and we will work to Fina guidelines. That would also include media planning and ticket pricing," said Ahmed al Rahomi, the DSC's spokesman. The council hopes to capitalise on the growing popularity of the sport. "Having the facilities around means we can get people into swimming. The sport is growing and these are top facilities, and the pools will definitely have long-term objectives," said Mr Rahomi.
They would also figure in any bid to host the Olympic Games. "Fina are here and they are happy with our progress, and this has delighted us," he said. The 2010 Fina championships are expected to attract swimmers from nearly 200 countries. Training facilities and accommodation will be built at Dubai Sports City. The 25-metre world championships are held every two years and attract the world's best swimmers. The 2010 competition will be held on April 7-11 under the patronage of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai and chairman of the Dubai Executive Council and the DSC.
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