ABU DHABI // The second annual Al Gharbia Watersports Festival, which ends tonight, has already attracted 20,000 more visitors than last year, organisers said yesterday. The 10-day event has so far seen 70,000 people flock to Mirfa Beach to compete in a variety of sports. Yesterday, the final match was played in the beach football competition and the kitesurfing contest came to a close. Awards were also given out for the winner of the high school swimming races over distances of 100, 50 and 25 metres.
Today, the organisers will host an award ceremony for the winners and also those from the kayaking and sand-sculpting contests. Obeid Khalfan al Mazrouei, the festival's manager, said the increased participation both in the sports and in numbers of spectators showed that the event was achieving its goal of putting Al Gharbia on the tourism map. "The festival, so far, has attracted more visitors this year compared to the 50,000 visitors last year, reflecting the consistent growth and our determination to make the event a landmark on the culture and sports calendar of the UAE."
The success was attributed to diversifying the activities and contests, and increased promotion, Mr al Mazrouei said. aseaman@thenational.ae
