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.[1] It is three stories tall and is equipped to host events in swimming, synchronized swimming, and diving.[2]

Technical features

A main three-story-tall building contains two diving pools as well as two Olympic-size swimming pools and has a seating capacity of over 2,000.[2]

Notable events

Recognition

In November 2021, ESPN mentioned Hamad Aquatic Centre in a published article noting the diversity of sporting venues and sports culture in Doha.[1]

Controversy

The Centre was the focus of controversy in October 2013. That month, Israeli swimmer Amit Ivry finished 2nd and won a silver medal in the women's 100 meter mixed individual medley at the FINA Swimming World Cup in swimming at the Centre, breaking the Israeli national record at 58.43 seconds.[18][19] The Israeli flag was removed from outside the Centre at the FINA event, however.[20] Furthermore, after Guy Barnea won a 200-meter butterfly heat, he posted a screenshot of a broadcast to Facebook in which the Israeli flag was displayed without the Star of David.[18][20] However, subsequent footage of the event released after Barnea's post revealed that the broadcast did not omit the Star of David.[21] The FINA Code of Ethics states that Fédération Internationale de Natation tournaments must have: “no discrimination on the basis of .. race, religion, or political opinion.”[22]

References

  1. ^ a b "Khalifa International Stadium, el oasis del fútbol de Qatar para el Mundial 2022" (in Spanish). ESPN. 20 November 2021. Retrieved 22 November 2021.
  2. ^ a b c "Capsules of venues for the 2006 Asian Games". China Daily. 27 November 2006. Retrieved 22 November 2021.
  3. ^ FINA (7 October 2012). "FINA/ARENA Swimming World Cup 2012 Doha: Complete Results Book". Omega Timing. Retrieved 22 November 2021.
  4. ^ "Doha set for FINA World Cup". Gulf Times. 8 October 2013. Retrieved 22 November 2021.
  5. ^ Marsteller, Jason (22 August 2014). "FINA Fast Facts on Upcoming FINA World Cup". Swimming World. Retrieved 22 November 2021.
  6. ^ Hussain, Fawad (2 November 2015). "Pool party begins as world's best eye wins". The Peninsula. Retrieved 22 November 2021.
  7. ^ Siddiqui, Ashraf (29 September 2016). "Doha All Set To Host FINA Swimming World Cup 2016 on October 8". Asian Telegraph Qatar. Retrieved 22 November 2021.
  8. ^ Race, Retta (4 October 2017). "FINA World Cup Doha Day 1 Prelims: Stars' Warm-Up Swims Completed". SwimSwam. Retrieved 22 November 2021.
  9. ^ Race, Retta (11 September 2018). "2018 FINA World Cup – Doha Kicks Off On Thursday". SwimSwam. Retrieved 22 November 2021.
  10. ^ "Ace swimmers to make big splash at Hamad Aquatic Centre soon". Qatar Tribune. 23 October 2019. Retrieved 22 November 2021.
  11. ^ Hussain, Fawad (10 November 2019). "FINA World Cup 2019: Morozov and Campbell crowned champions in Doha". The Peninsula. Retrieved 22 November 2021.
  12. ^ Race, Retta (19 October 2021). "2021 FINA World Cup Boasts Small Fields But Huge Battles". SwimSwam. Retrieved 22 November 2021.
  13. ^ "Sports season in full swing". The Peninsula. 31 October 2021. Retrieved 22 November 2021.
  14. ^ Keith, Braden (22 December 2011). "Mellouli Totals 14 Gold Medals At Pan-Arab Games To Honor Tunisia". SwimSwam. Retrieved 22 November 2021.
  15. ^ "Tiny Qatar set to roar". South China Morning Post. 9 January 2005. Retrieved 22 November 2021.
  16. ^ Stewart, Melvin (3 December 2014). "2014 FINA World Short Course Championships – Day 1 Photo Vault". SwimSwam. Retrieved 22 November 2021.
  17. ^ Chan, Melissa (24 August 2016). "U.S. Swimmer Jimmy Feigen Admits to Omitting Facts in Rio Robbery Scandal". Time. Retrieved 22 November 2021.
  18. ^ a b "Qatar: Israeli record and silver medal to swimmer Amit Ivry". Ynetnews.com. October 21, 2013. Retrieved October 22, 2013.
  19. ^ Dicker, Ron (October 22, 2013). "Israel's Flag Makes Waves, Then Disappears at Swimming World Cup in Qatar". Huffington Post. Retrieved October 23, 2013.
  20. ^ a b Sinai, Allon (October 22, 2013). "Israel's flag removed from swimming event in Qatar but Israeli swimmer wins two medals anyway". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved October 22, 2013.
  21. ^ Uri Talshir (7 December 2014). "The Controversy That Wasn't: Qatar Displays Israeli Flag After All". Haaretz. Retrieved 12 September 2015.
  22. ^ "Israel, Israeli swimmers face discrimination at events in Arab countries". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. October 22, 1923. Retrieved October 22, 2013.

25°15′49″N 51°26′36″E / 25.26361°N 51.44333°E / 25.26361; 51.44333

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