ABU DHABI // More than 600 swimmers ranging in age from seven and 65 will be taking the plunge in the first Abu Dhabi Swimming Festival tomorrow morning on the Corniche beach.
Enthusiasts from as far away as the United States will take part in the launch of what is hoped will be a steadily growing annual event. The American swimmers will be up against those from the United Kingdom and other parts of Europe, as well as swimmers from Jordan and Oman.
The feature race is the Waha Capital Mile, a demanding open water event with a prizes of Dh5,000 for the first male and female swimmers to cross the finish line.
The men's race, which launches the programme at 7am, is expected to be won with a time between 18 and 20 minutes, depending on the early morning conditions around the Abu Dhabi Breakwater.
Women contenders take to the water 10 minutes later with the winner due back on shore in just over 20 minutes. A time limit of 50 minutes has been imposed on the competitors for safety reasons.
Michael Batty, 65, an Australian who lives in Dubai, takes the distinction of being the oldest competitor at the festival. The female honour goes to Jay Wilkinson, another Australian, who is 59. They are both competing in the mile race.
The youngest entry is seven-year-old Finlay Payne, a member of Abu Dhabi's Dive In Club. He takes part in the other key category, the Etihad Splash Dash which has been divided into men's, women's and under 15s sections.
That event will start from the Heritage Village and finish on the public beach 700 metres away on the Corniche. A total of 13 events are scheduled in the festival, which will raise funds for the Abu Dhabi Special Care Centre's "Donate a Brick" campaign. Eight children from the centre are taking part in the Splash Dash.
Competitors in the mile race have paid Dh130 to take part while those in the Splash Dash have been charged Dh90. Children aged 15 or under pay Dh40.
The programme also includes some special challenge races allowing parents to compete as relay teams with their children.
Fran Halsall, the British international swimmer fresh from her successful Commonwealth Games campaign in India, where she had a gold medal in her five-medal haul, is the official starter of the festival.
"The original idea was to host a new open swimming water event, the first of its kind in the Emirates, which is more like a 10km community run and open to everyone than a swimming specialist regatta," said Jamie Cunningham, the chief executive of the organising company Professional Sports Group, who are staging the event under the patronage of Abu Dhabi Beaches.
"So there was scope for it and to celebrate the Corniche and the great beaches of Abu Dhabi.It doesn't matter if you're a professional swimmer, a recreational one or you just wanted to do it for the achievement, there are races to suit all abilities. Eventually, we want to create a unique event here in Abu Dhabi that will eventually rival the Midmar Mile in South Africa."
wjohnson@thenational.ae
Information
What: The first Abu Dhabi Swimming Festival, an open-water competition for all ages and abilities.
When: Tomorrow, 7am.
Where: Corniche beach.
Main event: Waha Capital Abu Dhabi Mile (1.6km). Men's and women's winners receive Dh5,000.
Team events: Relays and other races will be held for school, corporate and family teams.
Final event: Etihad Holidays Splash Dash (700m for adults, 200m for children). Men's and women's winners receive two airline tickets to Europe.
More information: www.swimabudhabi.com
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Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
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TRAINING FOR TOKYO
A typical week's training for Sebastian, who is competing at the ITU Abu Dhabi World Triathlon on March 8-9:
- Four swim sessions (14km)
- Three bike sessions (200km)
- Four run sessions (45km)
- Two strength and conditioning session (two hours)
- One session therapy session at DISC Dubai
- Two-three hours of stretching and self-maintenance of the body
ITU Abu Dhabi World Triathlon
For more information go to www.abudhabi.triathlon.org.
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1. Fasting
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3. Hajj
4. Shahada
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A foster couple or family must:
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Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
Getting there
The flights
Flydubai operates up to seven flights a week to Helsinki. Return fares to Helsinki from Dubai start from Dh1,545 in Economy and Dh7,560 in Business Class.
The stay
Golden Crown Igloos in Levi offer stays from Dh1,215 per person per night for a superior igloo; www.leviniglut.net
Panorama Hotel in Levi is conveniently located at the top of Levi fell, a short walk from the gondola. Stays start from Dh292 per night based on two people sharing; www. golevi.fi/en/accommodation/hotel-levi-panorama
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
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HOW TO WATCH
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo hybrid
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 390bhp
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Price: Dh340,000 ($92,579
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Toyota land Cruiser 2020 5.7L VXR
Engine: 5.7-litre V8
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
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Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
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Abu Dhabi – Call 999 or 8002626 (Aman Service)
Dubai – Call 800243
Sharjah – Call 065632222
Ras Al Khaimah - Call 072053372
Ajman – Call 067401616
Umm Al Quwain – Call 999
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The specs
Price, base / as tested Dh1,100,000 (est)
Engine 5.2-litre V10
Gearbox seven-speed dual clutch
Power 630bhp @ 8,000rpm
Torque 600Nm @ 6,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined 15.7L / 100km (est)
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Leaderboard
64 - Gavin Green (MAL), Graeme McDowell (NIR)
65 - Henrik Stenson (SWE), Sebastian Soderberg (SWE), Adri Arnaus (ESP), Victor Perez (FRA), Jhonattan Vegas (VEN)
66 - Phil Mickelson (USA), Tom Lewis (ENG), Andy Sullivan (ENG), Ross Fisher (ENG), Aaron Rai (ENG), Ryan Fox (NZL)
67 - Dustin Johnson (USA), Sebastian Garcia Rodriguez (ESP), Lucas Herbert (AUS), Francesco Laporta (ITA), Joost Luiten (NED), Soren Kjeldsen (DEN), Marcus Kinhult (SWE)
68 - Alexander Bjork (SWE), Matthieu Pavon (FRA), Adrian Meronk (POL), David Howell (ENG), Christiaan Bezuidenhout (RSA), Fabrizio Zanotti (PAR), Sean Crocker (USA), Scott Hend (AUS), Justin Harding (RSA), Jazz Janewattananond (THA), Shubhankar Sharma (IND), Renato Paratore (ITA)
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, (Leon banned).
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
MATCH INFO
Watford 2 (Sarr 50', Deeney 54' pen)
Manchester United 0
