A selection of pictures will also be displayed at certain locations around the spectacular, new Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Sports Complex where the Championships will be held from 15 – 19 December.
Championships Director Mr Obaid Al Shamsi said: “This is a great initiative as it is a means of ensuring that the 10th FINA World Swimming Championships (25m) in Dubai reaches out to as many people as possible.”
Any child or school can take part in the initiative. The drawings should be on A4 paper and submitted to Promoseven Sports Marketing – 10th FINA World Swimming Championships (25m), Emarat Atrium Building, Sheikh Zayed Road, PO Box 6834, Dubai by 1 December.
Some children have already been working on their pictures in anticipation of the arrival of some of the world’s best athletes including Australia’s multiple Olympic medallists Geoff Huegill, Leisel Jones and Felicity Galvez, Jason Dunford of Kenya, FINA World Cup winner Therese Alshammar of Sweden and American stars Ryan Lochte, Natalie Coughlin, Rebecca Soni and Aaron Piersol.
One of them, 13 year-old Lewis Arbuckle, said: “It makes me feel quite special to think that my picture could welcome a gold medallist to Dubai. It’s a very big thing to have these Championships in our city and I’m very happy that by taking part in this project, I can be a part of the event.”
Starting from bottom left - Faith Arbuckle , Olivia Scanlon, Lewis Arbuckle, Kate Fisher, Maeve Lines and Annie Kilalea
Lewis, who is a pupil at JESS Arabian Ranches, is looking forward to watching the fastest swimmers in the world next month.
“My favourite stroke is freestyle but I also enjoy the individual medley,” he said. “So I’m very excited to be able to watch the world’s best in action in just a few weeks’ time.
“I would definitely encourage other children to get involved in this idea. It’s great to take part in something so big and significant.”
Lewis’s sister, eight year-old Faith, has also drawn a picture to welcome the swimmers to Dubai.
“I drew a palm tree and wrote ‘Dubai’ in Arabic on my picture,” said Faith. “I wanted to use the Arabic that I have learnt in school to show the athletes the language here.
“I’m excited that an athlete might get my picture and take it home with them.”
Mr Obaid welcomed the efforts of Lewis and Faith saying: “This event is not just for elite swimmers and their fans because there are a whole host of people who will be entertained and inspired by the feats that will be achieved in the pool next month. Getting children involved is particularly important because they will be the next generation of athletes and supporters.
“It means that when we welcome the world to Dubai next month, our visitors will get a really personal touch from the people who live here and that is something we believe is very important.
“We hope that getting children interested and excited in the Championships will cause them to get involved in swimming in the future and if that is the case then it would be a fantastic legacy for them, the sport, Dubai and the United Arab Emirates.”