The first edition of the Kalba Open Swimming competitions will be launched on January 17th on Kalba Lake in Sharjah under the auspices of the Sharjah Sports Council. It is the first tournament of its kind in open swimming that is organized in cooperation with the Emirates Swimming Federation, Sharjah International Marine Sports Club, the Emirates Sports Federation and with the organizing the Thinkers Events and Marketing Company, aiming to promote tourism for the emirate and its areas, in addition to promoting various sports.
This came during a press conference today at the University of Sharjah – Kalba branch, attended by His Excellency Issa Hilal Al-Hazami, Secretary-General of the Sharjah Sports Council, Sultan Saif Al-Samahi, President of the Emirates Swimming Federation, Mr. Saeed Al-Ajel, Secretary-General of the Emirates Sports for All Federation, His Excellency Hassan Al Zaabi, Member of the Board of Directors of Sharjah International Marine Sports Club, and Mr. Yasser Dokhi, Director of the Sports and Community Events Department at the Sharjah Sports Council, and Mr. Nabil Al Mazrouei, Chairman of the Organizing Committee.
The competitions include three stages for the male and female groups, “12-13” years and “14-16” years, and the open category “17” and above. This tournament is supervised by judges from the Emirates Swimming Federation with the participation of no less than 500 swimmers from different countries of the world for different distances: 1000 meters, 2000 meters and 3000 meters, while valuable prizes were allocated for the winners in the three centers, including cups, medals and cash prizes.
Al-Hazami said that organizing these competitions falls within the activities of the Sports and Community Council and achieving its strategic goals based on the directives and vision of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah and his wife, Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Muhammad Al Qasimi, President of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs and the support of His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, Chairman of the Executive Council and Sheikh Saqr Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Council.He added that the tournament aims to promote the city of Kalba and its tourism in a distinctive way and also to encourage the practice of sports in general and fans of swimming in particular.
His Excellency Sultan Saif Al Samahi, President of the Emirates Swimming Federation, praised the various arrangements for the tournament to produce the best results, especially as it witnesses a large participation of swimmers from inside and outside the country, which increases the value of the tournament and raises the degree of great competition in it, and thanked the Sharjah Sports Council for its double interest in this tournament.
His Excellency Hassan Al Zaabi, member of the Board of Directors of the Sharjah International Marine Sports Club, praised the efforts made by all parties to make the Kalba Swimming Championships a success, which is a sporting and community event with distinguished participation, which gives the championship additional momentum and wide interest, beginning with the interest of the Sharjah Sports Council and other parties.
For his part, Nabil Al Mazrouei, Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the Championship, indicated that the sublime directives of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah lead to the successes achieved in all aspects, including the sports side, as the Kalba Swimming Championship represents an important community sporting event with the follow-up of the Sharjah Sports Council and the interest and support of Sheikh Saqr bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Council, and His Excellency Isa Hilal Al-Hazami, Secretary-General, where all kinds of support and facilities that contribute to the impressive success of the championship were provided, in addition to the role of the Sharjah International Marine Sports Club and government and private agencies.
Sources: WAM
