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Olympic Hero Sir Steve Redgrave Sets Sail With Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing |
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British Five-Time Medal Winner Passes On Knowledge Torch To Young Emirati OlympianSir Steve Redgrave, the five-time British gold medal winning Olympian rower and one of the greatest athletes of all time, swapped oars for lifejackets as he set sail with Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing - the team backed by Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA), which will compete in the 2011/12 Volvo Ocean Race - the gruelling, 39,000 nautical mile round-the-world race, known as the ‘Everest of Sailing’. Visiting the UAE capital in his ‘See Britain Ambassador’ role ahead of the 2012 Olympic Games in London, Sir Steve was keen to pass on the knowledge torch to Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing’s young Olympian, UAE national, Adil Khalid. The 22-year-old Emirati, who carried his country’s flag to Beijing in 2008, also made history after beating more than 120 other hopefuls to secure his berth on the Abu Dhabi team readying to contest the ultimate endurance ocean race, which stops in the UAE capital next New Year’s day. “It was an unbelievable opportunity to meet someone of Sir Steve’s calibre as he is such an inspiration. He really has achieved what most of us can only dream of and I was gripped by the stories and advice he had to give me,” said Adil, who is the first Emirati sailor to compete in the Olympics as well as the Volvo Ocean Race. “He told me to keep trying and train hard and that as a role model I had an important part to play in Abu Dhabi’s sporting future. This is a big responsibility and I can’t wait to start the Volvo Ocean Race and hopefully inspire others in the same way.” Sir Steve also took the chance to meet up with Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing’s skipper and double Olympic medallist, Ian Walker of Great Britain. Walker, originally from Southampton in the UK, competed in two of the same Olympic Games as Sir Steve, in 1996 and 2000. And, with Abu Dhabi making history by becoming the first Middle Eastern host port for the race in its 37-year history, Sir Steve – from Marlow, Buckinghamshire in England - is adamant the emirate embraces the opportunity to create a sporting legacy that lasts long after the Volvo Open 70 racing yachts head off. “Sport is a decisive facilitator for change and has the ability to inspire future generations. That belief forms the cornerstone for London 2012 and I believe Abu Dhabi has the same responsibilities to fulfil. In Adil and Ian, young sailors across the region have positive role models to aspire to,” said Sir Steve, who won gold medals at five consecutive Olympic Games from 1984 to 2000. The 49-year-old nine-time world champion, who was an instrumental player in the UK capital securing the 2012 games, also expressed his appreciation for expansion and improvements being carried out at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company (ADNEC)–owned ExCel London venue for 7 Olympic and 6 Paralympic events during London 2012. The 100 acre state-of-the-art exhibition space in London’s Docklands will be the venue for the presentation of 80 Olympic medals for Boxing, Fencing, Judo, Table Tennis, Taekwondo, Weightlifting and Wrestling and 74 Paralympic medals for Table Tennis, Judo, Powerlifting, Volleyball (Sitting), and Wheelchair Fencing. “This will leave a legacy both for London and Abu Dhabi,” said Sir Steve. “In much the same way, infrastructure developed in the UAE capital for the hosting of the Volvo Ocean Race will add to the destination’s sporting appeal. We would of course look forward to welcoming Abu Dhabi to our shores next summer.” ADTA - which was also behind the emirate’s successful bid to become a 2011-12 Volvo Ocean Race home port and the event’s first Official Destination Partner - has committed to making the Abu Dhabi stop-over a race highlight. In its role, ADTA wants to give visitors a unique opportunity to connect with the emirate’s centuries-old maritime heritage as well as help inspire future generations to take up the sport and better foster its pursuit of becoming a world-class winter sailing destination – a mission Walker believes the team must also embrace. “We have made Abu Dhabi our home for the last six months and have been welcomed with open arms into the sailing community – a sentiment we hope to repay many times over. As the race team, we want to transfer our sailing knowledge to the local industry, build strong interest in the sport as well as take the emirate’s name and credentials across the globe to others,” said Walker, who also coached fellow Briton, Shirley Robertson and her Yngling Team, to gold at the 2004 Athens Olympics. In addition to Walker and Adil, Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing has already signed up 2008/2009 Volvo Ocean Race winning navigator, Jules Salter from the United Kingdom; Volvo Ocean Race 2005/06 winner, Justin Slattery of Ireland; New Zealand’s Craig Satterthwaite, a 2007 America’s Cup winner; and Volvo Ocean Race and America’s Cup veteran, Simon Fisher from the UK. Development of a brand-new Volvo Open 70 for Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing is currently well-progressed. Designed by Farr Yacht Design from the US and being built in Northern Italy by Persico SPA, the team is expecting delivery of the state-of-the-art yacht this June. |
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