Abu Dhabi: Organisers of the Al Gharbia Watersports Festival 2012 are expecting around 90,000 visitors for this year's event — an increase of 20,000 over the last edition — as the Western Region gears up for the 10-day extravaganza which starts on April 12.
The public beach in the fishing town of Mirfa is expected to once again come alive with a range of watersport activities as well as other events during the 10-day festival which is being held under the patronage of Shaikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Ruler's Representative in the Western Region. The fourth edition of the annual event is presented by the Western Region Development Council (WRDC) and organised by Abu Dhabi Motors Club.
Addressing a press conference in Abu Dhabi yesterday, Mohammad Hamad Bin Azzan Al Mazroui, director-general of WRDC, said: "The festival has achieved great success in its three editions. The public turnout exceeded 70,000 visitors last year and this figure is expected to rise to 90,000 this year."
Al Gharbia is the Western Region of Abu Dhabi and covers about 80 per cent of Abu Dhabi's total area and over four-fifths of the UAE. The majority of residents live in the region's seven main cities which apart from Mirfa include Madinat Zayed, Ghayathi, Liwa, Ruwais, Sila and Dalma Island.
Obaid Khalfan Al Mazroui, the festival's manager said that among the water sports events to be held were kite-boarding, wake-boarding and surf-ski kayaking.
"These are in addition to traditional dhow racing, traditional rowing and a series of competitions in regatta," he said.
"This year's Al Gharbia Watersports Festival will see a significant increase in the number of countries participating with 15 of them having already confirmed so far. This reflects the outstanding local, regional and international success of the Festival over the past three years," he said.
Camping facility
"Visitors can take advantage of the beach camping provided by us at the venue. The 50-plus tents can easily accommodate about 300 people and it will be a unique experience," Obaid said.
Jakub Szczesny, a kitesurfing expert, who is in charge of some of various events planned for the festival said, "There will be competitions in the open, UAE nationals as well as the junior sections. Apart from these competitions there will be a series of events to help beginners get acquainted with many water sports events."
"The Al Gharbia Watersports Festival has gone from strength to strength because it engages with diverse groups of people. In particular we wanted to keep the region's local residents in mind by creating an inspiring event that would encourage them to participate in different sporting activities and play a more active role in the promotion of their region in the future. The festival is also a wonderful opportunity for families and visitors to relax, enjoy the fun, and experience the best of Al Gharbia. Women can participate in the souk by selling traditional products while the university students are welcome to volunteer and be part of this exciting event," Szczesny said.
Entries are open until 10.00 am on April 13. More information is available on the festival's website, www.algharbiafestivals.com/watersports.
