Doha, Qatar; 4 February 2024: The World Aquatics Championships – Doha 2024 Opening Ceremony promoted peace and unity through sport as it showcased Qatar’s deep connection with water during an immersive and exciting show at the Aspire Dome. 

The first World Aquatics Championships to be held in the Middle East was officially opened in front of a capacity crowd which with included IOC Members, senior Qatari dignitaries and members of the World Aquatics family. The creative Ceremony emphasised that “in water there are no borders”, while paying tribute to both Qatari history and the six aquatic sports that are on show in Doha over 17 days of competition.

Following a stunning performance of the Qatar national anthem by a local children’s choir, Qatari artist Azzam Al Mannai, famous for his photography of Qatar’s native whale sharks, emphasised water’s role in connecting the world. The audience’s immersive experience was then enhanced as their wristbands lit up during the athletes’ parade.

Whilst the colours and flags of all the competing nations were projected by the pool together, there were white flags flown as a symbol of peace. Once the parade was completed, Nada Mohammed Wafa, the first women to represent Qatar at the Olympic Games when she swam at London 2012, delivered a powerful message as the voice of peace.

Nada said: “We are forever connected by water. However, our connection to water serves as far more than just a reminder of what we have in common. Our connection to water is a constant, forgiving fountain that continues to lift us closer to the core of who we are: teaching us the essence of what we could be.

“If a single drop of water can always be welcomed into the ocean, then a every soul can always be welcomed into peace.Mahmoud Darwish says “poetry and beauty are always making peace. When you read something beautiful, you find coexistence; it breaks walls down.” I call on us all to become living manifestations of the poetry and beauty needed to create peace. I call on us break walls down, to coexist in peace.”

The message of peace was reinforced by world-renowned dance troupe, Murmuration by Sadeck Berrabah, whose captivating and hypnotising performance concluded with the dancers spelling out ‘peace’ and ‘salam’. Throughout the ceremony, the pool was illuminated with stunning projections of Qatar’s marine wildlife, its historic connection with the sea and images of the six aquatics sports being competed in during the Championships: swimming, artistic swimming, open water swimming, diving, high diving and water polo.