World Swimming Championships in Abu Dhabi delayed for 12 months

The Fina 25m event has been put back to December 2021 due to coronavirus pandemic

Spectators watch the 10th Fina World Swimming Championship at Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Sports Complex in Dubai in 2010. (Pawan Singh / The National) 

The Fina World Swimming Championships, scheduled to take place later this year in Abu Dhabi, have been postponed until December 2021 because of the coronavirus crisis.

The (25m)competition, which had been set for December 15-20 on Yas Island, will now be staged in the capital from December 13-18 next year, with the Fina World Aquatics Convention running in the three days before.

It will mark the second time the championship are held in the UAE, following on from Dubai in 2010.

“We have worked in close co-operation during the last weeks with the UAE authorities on this matter and we believe this is the most suitable solution for all those taking part in this competition,” Fina President Dr Julio C Maglione said in a statement.

“The Abu Dhabi rendezvous in December 2021 will be a great success and will once more be a strong inspiration for the development of swimming and aquatics in the region.”

Aref Al Awani, general secretary of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, added: “These are extraordinary times and we want to ensure all the safety measures are in place to stage a prestigious event like the Fina World Swimming Championships.

“Rescheduling the championships was the most appropriate option under the prevailing Covid-19 situation. We will definitely make up for lost time when we regroup in December 2021.”