2024 World Aquatics Championships

Last updated

21st World Aquatics Championships
2024 World Aquatics Championships logo.svg
Host cityDoha, Qatar
Date(s)2–18 February 2024
Venue(s)3
Nations participating199
Athletes participating~2,600
Events75 in 6 sports
Officially opened by Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani
Officially closed by Husain Al-Musallam
Website worldaquatics-doha2024.com

The 2024 World Aquatics Championships, the 21st edition of the World Aquatics Championships, were held in Doha, Qatar, from 2 to 18 February 2024. [1] 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. [2] [3]

Contents

It was the first time the World Aquatics Championships was 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.

The tournament featured the largest number of athletes in comparison with previous events, in which more than 2,600 participants hailing from 201 countries, in addition to the World Aquatics Refugee team, competed in 75 medals events. [4] However, the competition witnessed the notable absence of numerous top swimmers, with only six out of the 22 individual gold medalists from the 2023 World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka taking part in the event in order to defend their last year's titles. [5] 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; [6] in fact, this marks the first time a long-course world championship has been held in an Olympic year. [7]

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. [8] 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). [9]

Bidding cities were then asked to present FINA with an executed Host City Agreement by 26 October 2015, and to make a formal presentation to the FINA Bureau on 8 November 2015. Australia and Germany were the first two countries to quit the bidding race and were followed by Argentina. Two others, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates, had also shown interest, but withdrew before the presentation stage. [10]

With all other interested cities formerly withdrawing, on 2 October 2015, FINA executive director Cornel Marculescu confirmed there were three final bidders: Nanjing (China), Fukuoka (Japan), and Doha (Qatar). [10]

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. [11]

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. [11]

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. [11]

Venues

Three venues hosted competition at the Championships. The Aspire Dome, built for the 2006 Asian Games, hosted swimming and artistic swimming in a temporary pool constructed in the indoor football stadium, and water polo in a temporary pool constructed in the velodrome. Hamad Aquatic Centre, within the Aspire Academy, will host diving competition and was also the host venue of the World Aquatics Swimming Championships (25m) in 2014. [12] Open water swimming and high diving will take place at Old Doha Port.

Symbols

Mascots

On 20 September 2023, the mascots were announced as: Nahim, a Qatari whale shark, and Mayfara, a coral. [13]

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.” [14]

Schedule

A total of 75 medal events will be held across six disciplines. [15] [16]

Opening ceremonyPreliminariesFinalsClosing ceremonyMMen's matchesWWomen's matches
February23456789101112131415161718Total
Ceremonies
Swimming 4455556842
Open water swimming 11215
Artistic swimming 1222111111
Diving 22111211213
High diving 112
Water polo WMWMWMWMWMWMWM2
Total2443353234456667875
Cumulative Total2610131621242629333742485460677575

Medal table

  *   Host nation (Qatar)

RankNationGoldSilverBronzeTotal
1Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China 238233
2Flag of the United States.svg  United States 96823
3Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 712524
4Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 5409
5Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain 45918
6Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 310619
7Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 23611
8Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea 2125
9Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 2114
Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 2114
11Flag of Portugal.svg  Portugal 2013
12Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland 2002
13Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 15410
14Flag of France.svg  France 1416
15Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 1236
16Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico 1146
17Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary 1124
Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 1124
Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine 1124
20Flag of Greece.svg  Greece 1113
Flag of Hong Kong.svg  Hong Kong 1113
22Flag of Lithuania.svg  Lithuania 1102
23Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia 1001
Flag of Kazakhstan.svg  Kazakhstan 1001
25Flag of North Korea.svg  North Korea 0202
26Flag of Austria.svg  Austria 0112
27Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark 0101
Flag of Israel.svg  Israel 0101
Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg   Switzerland 0101
30Flag of Poland.svg  Poland 0033
31Flag of Colombia.svg  Colombia 0022
Flag of Egypt.svg  Egypt 0022
Flag of World Aquatics.svg Neutral Independent Athletes [lower-alpha 1] 0022
34Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg  Bosnia and Herzegovina 0011
Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil 0011
Flag of Romania.svg  Romania 0011
Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa 0011
Totals (37 entries)757575225
Source: Worldaquatics

Participating National Federations

Notes

  1. In accordance with sanctions imposed following by the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, athletes from Russia and Belarus were not permitted to use the name, flag, or anthem of their respective countries. They instead participated as "Neutral Independent Athletes (NIA)" and under the World Aquatics flag.

Related Research Articles

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Hamad Aquatic Centre is a large swimming pool complex in Doha, Qatar. The centre is housed in the Doha Sports City complex along with other buildings dedicated to sports in Qatar including the Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum, the Aspire Tower, Khalifa International Stadium, and a training school called Aspire Academy. It is three stories tall and is equipped to host events in swimming, synchronized swimming, and diving.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2015 World Aquatics Championships</span> 16th FINA World Championships

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">2017 World Aquatics Championships</span> 17th FINA World Championships

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Suspended Member Federation at the World Aquatics Championships</span> Sporting event delegation

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Water polo at the 2024 World Aquatics Championships</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Diving at the 2024 World Aquatics Championships</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">High diving at the 2024 World Aquatics Championships</span>

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