Fujairah set to host World 8-Ball Pool championship

Preparations for the World 8-Ball Pool Championship 2004 to be held in Fujairah from September 24 to October 1 moved up a gear with the organising committee signing an ambitious Dh1 million sponsorship agreement with Don Rite Media Advertisers.

Khalid Al Mazroui, General Manager of Fujairah International Airport and Chairman of Organising Committee, thanked Don Rite for their sponsorship and said: "We are delighted to have secured the support of Don Rite and are confident that they can contribute immensely to the success of the event," he said.

"This is the first time that a specialised advertising company has been commissioned to sponsor a world championship event. Don Rite will promote the event in the UAE and GCC and the rest of the world," Mazroui added.

Twelve UAE national billiards champions will join over 64 billiards professional players from over 20 countries in the world in the championship, which will be held under the patronage and directives of His Highness Shaikh Hamad bin Mohammad Al Sharqi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Fujairah, and the support of Shaikh Saleh bin Mohammad Al Sharqi, Chairman, Fujairah Department of Industry and Economy and patron of the World 8-Ball Pool Championship.

"This is the third international billiards championship to be hosted in Fujairah during the last couple of years," noted Mazroui.

"Due to the success of previous championships Fujairah was selected by the Billiards World Union (WBU) to organise the world championship."

Mazroui revealed that Don Rite Media would help promote the championship around the world.
Basel H. Saliba, Managing Director Don Rite, Dubai, thanked the organising committee for selecting the company to sponsor and promote the event.

"We look forward to playing a greater role during the upcoming world championship," he said.

"Our aim is to ensure the success of the event in terms of media and television coverage and marketing. Our participation is based on a multi-faceted strategy to cover all aspects of the promotion."

Elaborating on the preparations for the championship, Mazroui said that sub-committees had been formed and were currently working round-the-clock to ensure that every aspect of organising such a major sporting event will not be overlooked.

Ahmad Ebrahim Yousuf, Director of the World 8-Ball Pool Championship 2004 for professional and the region's first World Billiards Union-certified promoter of billiards in the Gulf region and Middle East, predicted that the event had the potential to boost the sport both locally and on a larger international scale.

"The success of the championship will impact significantly on high-ranking delegates from the World Billiard Olympic Committee, who will be evaluating the championship as a preliminary step towards nominating the sport for inclusion in the 2008 or 2012 Games," said Yousuf.

Sultan Al Shar, head of the promotion committee of the championship, said that the success of the event would help promote Fujairah and the UAE as an important destination for sport and tourism.