Second GCC Beach Games opened in Doha

Doha: The second edition of the GCC Beach Games began with a spectacular opening ceremony at the beach basketball courts in Al Gharafa Club here late on Thursday.

More than 300 athletes from Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, the UAE and Saudi Arabia took part in the parade of nations during the ceremony, which saw the heads of the visiting delegations also attend. Hosts Team Qatar are participating in all eight sporting disciplines with 65 athletes.

The concept of a Beach Games was created by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), with the staging of the first-ever Asian Beach Games in Bali, Indonesia, in 2008, and is seen as a pioneer in bringing new sports to the sand.

The Asian Beach Games have been held every two years since, with the most recent edition being hosted in 2014 in Phuket, Thailand. Its popularity and success led to a resolution at the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) General Assembly in November 2014 to launch a World Beach Games, with the first event set to take place in 2017.

Katara Cultural Village is the second host venue of the GCC Beach Games and will host open water swimming, rowing, sailing and air sports.

After the first edition held in Bahrain in 2010, this year’s GCC Beach Games will be staged in Doha’s state-of-the-art facilities and iconic landmarks over an action-packed eight-day sporting spectacle.

The action is set to continue until April 9.