Abu Dhabi Aquatics Club signs two memorandums of understanding with the Swim Coaches and Teachers Australia (SWIM) and the Elite Swimming Academy – Australia

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, May 10, 2023: The Abu Dhabi Aquatics Club has announced today two memorandums of understanding with two of Australia’s most prominent swimming institutions, namely the Swim Coaches and Teachers Australia (Swim) and the Elite Swimming Academy. The MOUs with these leading swimming organizations will help promote swimming in the UAE, activate collaboration and partnerships, and facilitate the exchange of technical expertise, to provide trainers and swimming teachers with the latest best practices in aquatic sports. The MOUs will also support Abu Dhabi Aquatics Club in delivering high-quality sporting events and competitions.

The MOU with the Swim Coaches and Teachers Australia (Swim) primarily focuses on developing world-class swimming coaches in the UAE. The SCTA (Swim) is one of the leading organizations in the education, accreditation, and professional development of swimming coaches and instructors in Australia, with a history that spans fifty years in Australia and beyond. The organization is renowned for its work with The World Swimming Coaches Association and The International Federation of Swimming Teachers’ Associations (IFSTA) and for participating in conferences and courses outside Australia.

The MOU between the Abu Dhabi Aquatics Club and the Elite Academy, an Australian Academy for swimming competitions credited with developing leading Australian swimmers since its founding in 1992, will enter into force in June 2023 and run until December 2024. It is focused on collaboration to advance Abu Dhabi Aquatics Club’s ability to organize world-class swimming competitions. The MOU also covers training and exchanging expertise and experiences by participating in the courses organized by The Elite Academy in the future.

Mr. Humaid Al Houti, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Abu Dhabi Aquatics Club, said: “The two agreements with some of Australia’s best swimming institutions are in line with the Abu Dhabi Sports Council’s efforts to enhance and develop the capabilities of swimming athletes in the emirate. We will work with our international partners to improve the performance of the Abu Dhabi Aquatics Club’s swimmers, promote swimming, build a greater understanding of the skills and approaches used within today’s coaching profession and develop international standard swimming coaching, and benefit from the Australian’s experience in swimming which was the best in the Tokyo 2020 Games.”

Brendon Ward, CEO, Swim Coaches and Teachers Australia said: “We offer our world-renowned “Swim Australia” training courses in more than 17 countries around the world. We are pleased to partner with the Abu Dhabi Aquatics Club to provide courses for swimming instructors and coaches in the UAE and expand the scope of our global partnerships; we are also pleased to participate in preparing top performance trainers through the programs and workshops that we will organize.”

Dr. Christos Stathis, Managing Director of the Australian Elite Swimming Academy, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership with the Abu Dhabi Water Sports Club, saying: “The Elite Academy is excited to partner with the Abu Dhabi Water Sports Club to enhance the practice of swimming, and to strengthen our relations with bodies and clubs who like us wish to make a difference in the water sports sector.”

Within the framework of developing the club’s cadres, John Stathis, a leading lecturer at World Aquatics and an Australian Swimming Teachers and Coaches Organization member, joined the Abu Dhabi Aquatics Club as Technical Director of Aquatics. Stathis brings his vast experience in the field to the club, as he founded and has managed the Elite Swimming Academies since 2008. Satish also has significant international experience, as he presented several courses and workshops for the qualification of trainers affiliated with World Aquatics from 2017 to 2023 in many countries around the world.

The Abu Dhabi Aquatics Club, established in 2021, is responsible for developing the vision and practice of aquatic sports in Abu Dhabi. It works to encourage and develop these sports and expand the base of training amongst all ages.

The club’s activities include training in technical swimming, water polo, high diving, open water swimming, rescue sports skills, and fin swimming, provided by a group of the best coaches at all levels. The club also aims to establish a base of sports volunteers at swimming and aquatic events by providing in-depth training for the participating volunteers. It collaborates with the UAE Swimming Federation and various national clubs to develop and train referees and coaches through its technical supervision of sporting events and tournaments.

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About Abu Dhabi Aquatics Club:

Abu Dhabi Aquatics Club is an Abu Dhabi based aquatic sports club established in 2021 to leverage Abu Dhabi and UAE’s knowledge and experience in water sports. The club was formed under the supervision of Abu Dhabi Sports Council; national Olympics coaches in the club provide world-class water sports training during various events and tournaments across the UAE.