DUBAI // A thousand of the world’s best Frisbee flingers are expected to gather in the UAE next year for the World Championships of Beach Ultimate.
The team championships, expected to draw 60 sides from around the globe, will be played out at Jumeirah Beach Residence in March.
“We are extremely happy to have selected Dubai to host the 2015 World Championships,” said Patrick van der Valk, president of the Beach Ultimate Lovers Association.
“Dubai’s infrastructure and central location will attract the best players worldwide and we look forward to welcoming everyone.”
The event has been organised by the United Arabian Ultimate, the sport’s local association.
“It is a pleasure to see the development of disc sports in the Middle East,” said Robert Rauch, president of the World Flying Disc Federation, which governs world Frisbee sports.
“Beach Ultimate continues to grow quickly and we believe this venue will give our athletes a very interesting cultural experience.”
The competition will take place from March 8 to 13.
“Players coming to the event are really going to have an amazing time in Dubai,” said Patrick Fourcampre-Maye, president of the local association.
“Great beaches, great weather and a stunning skyline backdrop. It’s simply going to be an experience well-travelled ultimate players won’t have had before, and I know they are going to share that amazing experience with the world.”
As part of the warm up for the event next year, United Arabian Ultimate will host clinics and tournaments across the UAE and run youth leagues in schools.
“We took a team from the UAE to Italy in 2011, and we’ve been dreaming of this since,” said Mr Fourcampre-Maye. “It is going to be amazing for our sport, not just in Dubai but for the region too.”
This is the fourth time the event has been held, with previous competitions hosted by Portugal in 2004, Brazil in 2007 and Italy in 2011.
For more details visit www.facebook.com/wcbu2015 and Twitter at www.twitter.com/wcbu2015.
nhanif@thenational.ae
