Doha                                                                                                                                                                                                      27 June 2018

The past two decades have seen numerous achievements for Qatar in the field of sports on international level. The country has produced some of the world’s finest athletes and successfully hosted many global sports events.

In July 2018, the world will witness another historic moment for the Gulf nation, when seven Qataris, aged between 34-52, will aim for one of the hardest challenges any athlete can take.

Brought together by their love for adventure and extreme sports, they will make an attempt to swim across the English Channel from the coast of England to the coast of France, on relay basis.

A tough test known as the Everest of Openwater swimming, but the members of “Team Qatar Channel Swim” are not new to overcoming what seem to be impossible missions. Each one of them has achieved huge success in the field of extreme and endurance sports, and now it is time for a new challenge.

Their success in becoming the first Qataris to swim across “The English Channel’ or ‘La Manche’ as the French say, will inspire their nation, and it will not only promote sports and healthy lifestyle in the country. It will also give an important message, age or career success are not an obstacle if you want to take on sports.

“Team Qatar Channel Swim” members are all successful in their professional careers in medical, business, oil and gas, and legal fields.

The Challenge

A team of seven inspirational athletes will be aiming to make history by becoming the first ever Qataris to swim across the English Channel, one of the toughest physical challenges in the world.

Date

Between the 20^th and 27^th of July 2018.

Location and Route

The attempt will start at or near Shakespeare's Cliff or Samphire Hoe (between Folkestone and Dover), and the aim is to finish at or near Cap Gris Nez (between Boulogne and Calais).

Distance & Duration

The team is expected to take around 18-20 hours to cover a distance of more than 34 Kms on relay basis.

The Team

Dr. Mohammed Al Kuwari
Dr. Faleh Mohamed Ali
Dr. Jamal Rashid Al Khanji
Dr. Khalid Al Jalham
Prof. Nasser Al Mohannadi
Fahad Al Buenain
Talal Al Emadi

Channel Swimming ... History, Facts & Figures

• The English Channel, known as “La Manche” in French, is a body of water between England and France linking the North Sea with the Atlantic Ocean. Its length is around 560 km and it is considered to be the world’s busiest waterway.

• British captain Matthew Webb made the first observed and unassisted swim across the channel from England to France in August 1875.

• Over the past 143 years, only 1484 individual swimmers and 757 relay teams succeeded in crossing the hazardous waterway.

• Founded in 1927, The Channel Swimming Association (CSA) is the organization responsible for observing and authenticating Cross-Channel Swims.

• With over 600 tankers and 200 ferries passing through the channel every day, the swimmers must depend on experienced and CSA certified pilots to escort them during the attempt using vessels also registered with the Association.

• The Team will be escorted on the Channel by the vessel Rowena captained by Pete Reed.

• Water temperature in the English Channel during the swim season, between July and September, ranges from 14 to 18 degrees Celsius.

• Other hazards facing the swimmers include strong tides, cold wind, waves, oil slicks, jelly fish, fog and possible rain or lightning. In short, the channel swim is the Everest of open water swimming.