Manama - 04 Jan 2024 – Under the patronage of His Highness Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports, Chairman of General Sports Authority, and President of Bahrain Olympics Committee, World Aquatics and the Bahrain Olympic Committee, in partnership with GFH Financial Group (GFH) and the Bahrain Swimming Federation, today broke ground on a new World Aquatics centre of excellence located at the University of Technology Bahrain (UTB).

This first-of-its-kind facility in the Middle East will join a network of existing World Aquatics centres in Antibes (France), Budapest (Hungary), Toronto (Canada), Davie (Florida, USA), Phuket (Thailand) and Gold Coast (Australia). It will empower high-performance athletes with a combination of state-of-the-art facilities, world-class coaching, and cutting-edge sports science.

The project's centrepiece will be a 50-metre swimming pool and a 5-metre diving pool, both built to Olympic specifications and with 1,000 spectator seats in order to host future competition events. The pools will be complemented by comprehensive training and sports science facilities. And the addition of convenient accommodation, dining and retail elements will foster a sense of community for those fortunate enough to live and train at the facility.

His Highness Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, said, “I am delighted to witness this important milestone bringing us one step closer to the opening of a world-class aquatics centre in the Kingdom of Bahrain. This project will strengthen aquatic sports in the region and add another important dimension to Bahrain’s position as a leading, global sporting hub. We congratulate each of our partners for their diligence in swiftly advancing this project and look forward to welcoming elite athletes to the Kingdom to train, compete and achieve their sporting dreams.”

Image Source: World Aquatics President Husain Al Musallam speaking during the groundbreaking ceremony

"Today's groundbreaking sees us and our partners lay strong foundations for the future of aquatic sports in the Middle East," said World Aquatics President Husain Al-Musallam. "By establishing a regional presence in Bahrain and launching this centre of excellence, we will significantly improve the way we serve athletes globally, while shaping the next generation of aquatic stars and elite coaches. This state-of-the-art facility will not only empower young athletes but also position Bahrain as a premier host for international aquatics events."

Image Source: Bahraini athletes have competed in swimming at every Olympic Games since Sydney 2000. The new Bahrain Centre of Excellence will also serve as the new training base for the Bahrain Swimming Association (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

Mr. Hisham Alrayes, Group CEO of GFH and Chairman of UTB, added, “We are proud to commence work on this pioneering project that will support and attract the global aquatics community to the Kingdom of Bahrain as well as catering to needs of local athletes, students and the surrounding community through its various unique components. GFH and UTB are dedicated to advancing the Kingdom’s position as a leading regional centre for talent development including in the sporting arena and this facility will be instrumental in this pursuit. We’re grateful for the selection of UTB as a partner in this exciting project and the location for what will soon be one of the most advanced aquatics facilities in the world.”

-ENDS-

About World Aquatics:

Driven by the vision of a world united by water for health, life and sport, World Aquatics is the international governing body for aquatic sports. Founded in 1908, World Aquatics is an independent organisation formed of 210 National Member Federations and five Continental Associations.

World Aquatics oversees six aquatic sports – swimming, water polo, diving, artistic swimming, open water swimming and high diving – and is recognised as the leading global authority of these sports by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

About GFH Financial Group B.S.C.:

GFH Financial Group is one of the most recognised financial groups in the Gulf region. Its businesses include Investment Management, Commercial Banking and Treasury & Proprietary Investments, with assets and funds under management exceeding US$19 billion dollars. The Group’s operations are principally focused across the GCC, North Africa and India, along with strategic investment in the U.S., Europe and the U.K. GFH is listed in Bahrain Bourse, Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange, Boursa Kuwait and Dubai Financial Market. For more information, please visit www.gfh.com.

 

Media Contacts:

World Aquatics
Torin Koos
Communication Manager
Tel: +41 21 310 47 10
Email: torin.koos@worldaquatics.com
Website: www.worldaquatics.com  

GFH Financial Group
Nawal Al-Naji
Senior Manager - Corporate Communications
Tel: +973 17538538
Email: nalnaji@gfh.com
Website: www.gfh.com