Al-Musallam and Asadov discuss aquatic sports development

World Aquatics President Hussein Al-Musallam meets Azerbaijani Prime Minister Ali Asadov in Baku.

BAKU, Azerbaijan, Oct. 1: World Aquatics President Hussein Al-Musallam met Azerbaijani Prime Minister Ali Asadov in Baku to discuss Azerbaijan’s hosting of a World Cup event and ways to strengthen sporting cooperation and advance the development of aquatic sports.

Al-Musallam praised Azerbaijan’s preparations for the competition and thanked the government for its efforts to ensure a successful event. He said sport plays an important role in promoting peace and bringing people closer together.

The World Cup will take on a new format this year with a three-stop “Silk Road” tour, beginning in Baku from Oct. 1-3. The series will then move to Tashkent from Oct. 8-10 before concluding in Astana, Kazakhstan, from Oct. 15-17.

More than 180 of the world’s leading swimmers are expected to compete, with $1 million in prize money on offer, a figure that could increase if records are broken.

Al-Musallam also underlined the importance of swimming, citing its wide-ranging physical and health benefits and its value for people of all ages.