The first FINA open water event Qatar ever hosted officially kicked-off today in Doha that plays host to the inaugural leg of the FINA/HOSA Marathon Swim World Series 2018.

After announcing the partnership renewal with Chinese sponsor HOSA last week for the Series from 2018-2021, FINA revealed, today at the opening press conference in Doha, a brand new partnership with timing services provider Microplus Informatica, an Italian company which becomes the Series official timekeeper for the 2018 and 2019 editions.

Microplus Data processing & Timing provide a large range of services to its clients: from on venue result system, central result system to broadcast solution, infrastructures services and accreditations system, Microplus has many years of experience providing on-site timing solutions for several aquatic events such as the FINA/HOSA 10km Marathon Swimming World Cup 2017, FINA Artistic Swimming World Series, FINA World Masters Championships, LEN Water Polo Champions League, and many events from the Italian Swimming Federation (FIN).

Microplus Chairman of the Management Board, Maurizio Destefanis said:

"We just want to thank FINA for the great opportunity we have been given. FINA and Microplus have a long history of cooperation over the years. In particular we have been working together for the World Masters Championships for the last three editions with mutual satisfaction. Microplus is working to develop Timing and Data Services for the Aquatic World for a long time and for this new project we plan to introduce new technologies to have real time data information using special GPS devices that will be experimented during the season.The agreement that has just been signed is an important step and a great challenge and we are sure that the unconditional support that our team will provide will assist FINA and all LOCs to achieve consistently professional world class results."

FINA President Julio C. Maglione commented the latest partnership FINA has landed for the annual 10km circuit:

"We are very grateful for the support of Microplus and we are delighted to be working with them. This new partnership will play an important role over the next two years in helping us to further grow the Series and provide a professionally-run and unified annual competition for the elite of the sport."

Ahead of the first leg of the event, he added:

"The very high-profile start list including Olympic and World champions to take the departure in Doha confirms the popularity and success of the prestigious event. Doha have been for the last years a very solid FINA partner in the organisation of several events and we look forward to seeing the result of all this hard-work and commitment, which will represent another milestone for the development of this Olympic discipline in this region of the world."

A very high-profile list of departure including Olympic and World champions highlight this first race to take place on Saturday March 17. START LIST

Olympic champion Ferry Weertman, who spoke at the press conference this morning said:

 

"I have never win a Swim World Series leg so far and I would like to do so this time, here in Doha. I am very excited to see how I perform in the heat."