Record 600 participants at Qatar Aquathon

The third annual Aspire Zone Aquathon series concluded last weekend having drawn 600 participants through its five race series.

Staged at Doha’s Aspire Zone, the Aquathon Series, consists of five races spread across several months – with each race featuring a 500 metre swim in the Aspire Dome pool and a 5 kilometre run around Aspire Park.

A yearly event at the Aspire Zone, overall winners are decided on the best three out of five races basis. Entry is available to men and women with categories available for children, juniors, seniors, and veterans.

Commenting on the success of the series, Aspire Zone Events executive Hamad al Kubaisi stated "around 600 participants of all age groups and gender participated in the third edition of the Annual Aquathon which is gaining popularity every year."

The hugely successful series is part of Aspire Zone Foundation's multifaceted community program designed to encourage residents to adopt healthy lifestyles.

Beginning the 2013-2014 Aquathon season with an average of 350 participants, the Aspire event has proven ever more popular, with the number of competitors almost doubling by the end of the five-month race period.

The Aspire Zone is a 250-hectare sporting hub located in Al Waab district of Doha, Qatar. Mostly constructed in preparation for the 2006 Asian Games, the hub contains several sporting venues:

• Khalifa International Stadium, a 50,000-capacity stadium primarily used for football - a planned venue for the 2012 FIFA World Cup..

• Hamad Aquatic Centre, an Olympic-size swimming pool.

• The Aspire Dome, the world's largest indoor multi-purpose sports hall and contains 13 different playing fields.

For more information go to www.aspirezone.qa/events/AquathonSeries/homepage.aspx