Hamad Aquatic Centre is a large swimming pool complex in Doha, Qatar. As part of the Doha sports city that encompasses a number of other complexes in the area it was the venue for aquatic events at the 2006 Asian Games.
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.[1][2] The Israeli flag was removed from outside the Centre at the FINA event, however.[3] 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.[1][3] However, subsequent footage of the event released after Barnea's post revealed that the broadcast did not omit the Star of David.[4] 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.”[5]
The venue hosted the 2014 FINA World Swimming Championships.
References
- ^ a b "Qatar: Israeli record and silver medal to swimmer Amit Ivry". Ynetnews.com. October 21, 2013. Retrieved October 22, 2013.
- ^ Dicker, Ron (October 22, 2013). "Israel's Flag Makes Waves, Then Disappears at Swimming World Cup in Qatar". Huffington Post. Retrieved October 23, 2013.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Uri Talshir (7 December 2014). "The Controversy That Wasn't: Qatar Displays Israeli Flag After All". Haaretz. Retrieved 12 September 2015.
- ^ "Israel, Israeli swimmers face discrimination at events in Arab countries". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. October 22, 1923. Retrieved October 22, 2013.