ABU DHABI, Nov. 22 (Xinhuanet) -- The 3rd FINA World Open Water Swimming Championships will take place from November 26 to December 2, 2004 in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates with the participation of 92 long distance swimmers including 38 women from27 countries and regions worldwide.

    Listed on the program are three events: 5km (November 27), 10km(November 29) and 25km (December 1-2), swimming's world governing body FIFA said in a press release from its headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland on Monday.

    Petar Stoychev from Bulgaria, holder of the yearly FINA Marathon Swimming World Cup series since 2001, will compete in thethree events.

    Yuri Kudinov from Russia will defend his 25 km title, obtained since 2000.

    Alan Bircher (Britain, in the three events), Fabio Venturini (Italy, 5km), Grant Cleland (Australia) and Christian Hein (Germany), in 5 and 10 km, Stphane Gomez (France, in 5 and 25km), Mark Saliba (Australia) and Gabriel Chaillou (Argentina) in 25km, and strong Russian and United States teams will be other favorites.

    In the women's events, the last winners of the FINA World Cup Series, Edith van Dijk (Netherlands), in 2000 and 2001, Britta Kamrau (Germany) in 2003 and Angela Maurer in 2002 and 2004, will be present.

    The best Russian, Natalia Pankina will race in the 25km.

    Other winners of FINA races such as Erica Rose (Australia, in the 10 and 25km), Sara McLarty (United States, in the 5km), Cindy Persson (Belgium, in the 25km), and in the three events, Ivanka Moralieva (Bulgaria), Yvetta Hlavackova (Czech Republic) and Stephanie Biller (Germany) will compete for the victories.

    Since 1991, open water swimming or long distance swimming appeared on the program of the general FINA World Championships with the other FINA events. Since 2000, one edition of FINA WorldOpen Swimming Championships is organized between each FINA World Championships. Enditem