Inaugural Abu Dhabi Swimming Festival To Be Held In October 2010

Variety of open water competitions for all abilities held. Event attracts big-name sponsors, including Etihad Airways, The National and Waha Capital.

The inaugural Abu Dhabi Swimming Festival will take place on the Abu Dhabi Corniche, UAE, on Saturday 16th October. The Festival, the first-of-its-kind in the Emirate, will feature a variety of open water competitions suitable for all levels of swimmers, including individual and relay races for friends, families, schools and local businesses.

Festival organizer, Professional Sports Group, has devised a wide range of race options, including the feature race - Waha Capital Abu Dhabi Mile (1.6km) where winners of the male and female categories will each receive 5,000 AED (1,400 USD). In the Etihad Holidays Splash Dash (700m) the winning male and female will receive two Business Class tickets to any Etihad Airways destination in Europe. There is also an Etihad Holidays Splash Dash individuals race for children over 200m as well as relay races for schools, businesses and families.

The event, supported by a number of high profile sponsors including Etihad Airways and Abu Dhabi based investment company, Waha Capital, will be used to promote healthy living and active lifestyles amongst the local community, as well as showcasing the beaches and water of the Abu Dubai coastline. A percentage of each participant fee will be donated to the Abu Dhabi Special Care Centre.

Jamie Cunningham, CEO, Professional Sports Group, one of the UAE’s leading sports marketing companies, believes the event can grow into a major sports event on the UAE calendar.

“We want to create a unique swimming event here in Abu Dhabi which will eventually rival the Midmar Mile in South Africa. 2010 is mostly about attracting the UAE community to participate in the event, but we hope the event will attract overseas visitors to swim Abu Dhabi’s iconic stretch of water along the Corniche. With our prize-fund, free entry for Abu Dhabi schools, a great series of family swimming challenges, the Etihad Airways Splash Dash plus the Waha Capital Abu Dhabi Mile, we are confident that the Abu Dhabi Swimming Festival will become one of the great mass participation events in the Arabian Gulf.”

Mr. Rashid Ali Al Umairah, Consultant of Investments, Municipality of Abu Dhabi City added:

“Launching this unique event at Abu Dhabi Beach Corniche, in cooperation with Professional Sports Group, is a great way of revamping Abu Dhabi Beach Corniche, transforming it into a key tourist attraction of Abu Dhabi. Residents and visitors alike can enjoy the ultramodern services at world-class standards, all designed to meet their future needs and keeping inline with Abu Dhabi Future Plan 2030.”

Under the Patronage of Abu Dhabi Beaches, the Abu Dhabi Swimming Festival is supported by the Abu Dhabi Sports Council and the UAE Swimming Association. Etihad Holidays is offering a prize draw for a free family holiday to Asia to everyone that enters the event. The National newspaper is sponsoring the Competitors Village and the family relays. Competitors will also receive ‘Breakfast on the Beach’ courtesy of the Park Rotana, Abu Dhabi as well as gift packs including Al Ain Water, Capri Sun, and Speedo swim caps. Carboholix, the UAE’s exclusive health food outlet for diabetics, is supporting the junior relay races and providing free entry for all Abu Dhabi schools.

To enter the Abu Dhabi Swimming Festival and for all information regarding events available and the entry procedure, please visit www.swimabudhabi.com For more information please call the Festival Office, 050 657 6925.
 

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