Dubai to host 'exciting' offshore DiSE camp in 2022

Dubai is set to play host to 100 DiSE swimmers as an offshore camp in the ‘city of gold’ has been confirmed for next year.

This will be the first offshore champ the programme has offered since the beginning of the pandemic and will take place from 6-14 February 2022.

The trip will harmoniously combine three days of high-performance training followed by three days of competition in the form of the Middle East Open and Junior Championships (MEOJC).

Hamilton Aquatics, one of the nations’ most prestigious swimming clubs, will welcome the English competitors once again having previously hosted a DiSE camp in February 2020.

Speaking on the ‘exciting opportunity’, Richard Blackshaw, head of swimming talent at Swim England, said: “The DiSE programme is now fully integrated into the Swim England talent pathway.

“Part of our strategy is for our delivery plan to be progressive and the objective for swimmers of this age is to give purposeful experiences in an international competition setting.

“The Dubai camp will give so many benefits, swimmers will have the opportunity to develop a wide range of holistic skills, such as arena skills, ownership, self-sufficiency and race-craft that will not only support their swimming journey but also prepare them with valuable life skills.”

‘Unique opportunity’

DiSE assessor manager is Darren Sims, who praised the camp as an ‘important milestone’ for the athletes who will attend.

“This is a particularly important milestone for athletes enrolled on the DISE programme,” he said.

“It will provide the staff and athletes with an opportunity to link together high-performance habits, education from workshops and natural development from junior/youth swimming as we head towards post-18 options and senior swimming.

“The camp will provide a rather unique opportunity for athletes to work in a high-performance training environment followed by an international meet which will be held at the 15,000 seater Hamdan Sports Complex.

“It may come as the first opportunity for a swimmer to represent Swim England internationally, I am sure this will draw excitement and enthusiasm as we look forward to the British Swimming Championships in April.”

Ash Morris, director of swimming at Hamilton Aquatics, said of the upcoming camp: “It is fantastic to have Swim England and DiSE joining us again.

“This is a brilliant opportunity for our own swimmers to welcome some high-level international competitors to Dubai.

“Hopefully, this leads the way in showing the rest of the world that we are returning to normal and attending safe organised events for swimmers to experience.”

About DiSE

The Diploma in Sporting Excellence (DiSE) is an industry-leading, two-year programme that aims to harmoniously combine the studies and high-performance training of athletes across each aquatic sport.

The programmes’ extensive alumni include many inspirational athletes such as Adam Peaty, Rebecca Adlington, Alice Dearing and Jessica-Jane Applegate.

You can find out more about this unique course by visiting the following links for swimming, diving,artistic swimming, and water polo.