Abu Dhabi: World-record-holding Emiratis, the Al Jasmi brothers, on Monday held a swimming masterclass for schoolchildren at Emirates Palace ahead of the Abu Dhabi Swimming Festival by Daman’s ActiveLife.
The session was held to promote the February 28 festival, which is the biggest mass-participation swimming event in Abu Dhabi, organisers say, with more than 1,000 amateur swimmers expected to take part.
The current Fina Male Swimmer of the Year, Chad Le Clos, who won gold in the 200-metre butterfly at the London Olympics, has added his name to the list of participants.
The Al Jasmis – Obaid, Saeed, Bakheet and Faisal - and Egyptian triathlete Omar Nour, who is an Activelife by Daman ambassador and spokesperson, helped lead a session on the Emirates Palace beachfront, giving safety and swimming tips to the students before taking to the water to demonstrate strokes and techniques.
This was followed by a race in the Emirates Palace waters, in which the Al Jasmis, who hold a Guinness World Record for being the first team of brothers to compete in the 4×100 metre relay at the World Short Course Swimming Championships in Dubai in 2010, Nour, and Dr Sven Rohte, Chief Commercial Officer at Daman, all competed.
Obaid, the eldest of the Al Jasmi brothers, said: “Today was a wonderful opportunity to work with a number of school students in the run-up to the Abu Dhabi Swimming Festival, and we are delighted to be a part of such a great event. The event will inspire and encourage the youth of the UAE to take up swimming and make the most of the country’s coastlines and swimming facilities.”
The festival is sponsored by the National Health Insurance Company – Daman’s ActiveLife initiative and organised by Professional Sports Group in partnership with the Abu Dhabi Sports Council.
Dr Rohte said: “With the increase of childhood obesity, it has become more important than ever to encourage youngsters to take up sports and lead healthier lifestyles. Abu Dhabi Swimming Festival by Daman’s ActiveLife is a great opportunity to showcase this great sport to a wide audience, especially children who will surely be inspired by the Al Jasmi brothers’ story.
