Abdel Moneim to officiate marathon swimming event at 2024 Paris Olympics

Muscat: Omani international referee Abdul Moneim Alavi will officiate at the women’s 10km marathon swimming (open water) event in Paris 2024 on Thursday. He will also officiate at the men’s 10km marathon swimming (open water) event on Friday.

Speaking in France ahead of the competition, Abdelmonem said: “I am very happy to be participating in the Olympic Games for the third time in a row, after Rio 2016, Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024. I have been appointed as the chief judge for the men’s and women’s 10km marathon swimming (open water) events.”

He added: “This is the first time that World Swimming has allowed 24 women to compete as it has provided two extra places for the top swimmers in the 1500m event.”

Alavi, who is from Sur, said he attended the pre-race technical meeting in Paris on Wednesday. “During the technical meeting, we discussed and resolved several issues in the presence of team representatives. I explained the race route and the latest rules and regulations for marathon swimming approved by the World Swimming Federation last July,” he said.

Al Alawi said it was a great opportunity to represent Oman at this top sporting event. “Participating in the Olympic Games for the third time means a lot to me as I represent my country and work closely with senior officials from all over the world. I would like to take this opportunity to thank World Swimming for the trust and confidence it has shown in me by appointing me to this position. Special thanks to the Oman Olympic Committee (OOC) and the Oman Swimming Association for their continuous support and help,” he concluded.

The Women’s 10km Marathon Swim (Open Water) will see 24 swimmers vying for Olympic medals, including: Caroline Jouisse of France, Sharon van Rouwendaal of the Netherlands, Angelica Andre of Portugal, Leonie Beck and Leonie Maertens of Germany, Katie Grimes and Mariah Denigan of the United States, Xin Xin of China, Ana Marcela Cunha and Viviane Jungblut of Brazil, Maria Alejandra Bramont-Arias of Peru, Chelsea Gubecka and Moesha Johnson of Australia, Giulia Gabbrielleschi and Ginevra Taddeucci of Italy, Emma Finlin of Canada, Oceane Cassignol of France, Leah Phoebe Crisp of the United Kingdom, Martha Sandoval Ayala of Mexico, Angela Martinez Guillen of Spain, Lisa Pou of Monaco and Airi Ebina of Japan. and Bettina Fabian of Hungary and Maria de Valdés Alvarez of Spain.