DUBAI// More than 1,000 schoolchildren are to get a taste of the high octane world of Formula One in the run up to next week's Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix.
Yas Marina Circuit has launched its F1 in Schools programme in the build-up to the race on November 3.
The students will be asked to design and build a miniature F1 car and manage their own team, which in turn teaches a variety of skills including engineering, science, marketing, communications and technology.
“The levels of enthusiasm UAE students and teachers have shown for the F1 in Schools programme is truly impressive,” said Abdulla Al Shammari, F1 in Schools programme coordinator at the circuit.
“Several schools and teams have already raced ahead to start this season’s programme, with 20 teachers attending a pre-season information session recently hosted by Dubai British School, where they were given a preview of our 2013/14 programme.”
The students will be split into teams and will also have to come up with a business plan, develop a marketing strategy and present their work to a panel of judges.
This year, the Junior F1 Challenge will be added to the course, which focuses on primary school children. Youngsters have to make a card version of an F1 car, complete with its own brand.
The cars will be powered by a compressed gas cylinder and race over a 20 metre course.
The competition is divided into two categories: Rookie Class, for those aged 14 years or under, and Professional Class, for older students and those who have taken part in past events.
Successful teams will progress through school and regional levels for a chance to compete in the UAE National Final, which will be held at the circuit in May 2014.
Both the Rookie Class and Professional Class National champions will qualify to represent the UAE at the F1 in Schools world finals, held in conjunction with one of the 22 Formula One Grand Prix races around the world next year.
Four UAE teams who took part last year are preparing to enter in the world finals from November 14-17, during the US Grand Prix in Austin, Texas.
Schools can register for the F1 in Schools challenge and learn more about the programme by visiting http://www.f1inschools.ae or emailing paul.bray@ymc.ae.
nhanif@thenational.ae
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Western Region Asia Cup Qualifier
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UAE beat Saudi Arabia by 12 runs
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UAE v Qatar
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WOMAN AND CHILD
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Picture of Joumblatt and Hariri breaking bread sets Twitter alight
Mr Joumblatt’s pessimism regarding the Lebanese political situation didn’t stop him from enjoying a cheerful dinner on Tuesday with several politicians including Mr Hariri.
Caretaker Culture Minister Ghattas Khoury tweeted a picture of the group sitting around a table at a discrete fish restaurant in Beirut’s upscale Sodeco area.
Mr Joumblatt told The National that the fish served at Kelly’s Fish lounge had been very good.
“They really enjoyed their time”, remembers the restaurant owner. “Mr Hariri was taking selfies with everybody”.
Mr Hariri and Mr Joumblatt often have dinner together to discuss recent political developments.
Mr Joumblatt was a close ally of Mr Hariri’s assassinated father, former prime minister Rafik Hariri. The pair were leading figures in the political grouping against the 15-year Syrian occupation of Lebanon that ended after mass protests in 2005 in the wake of Rafik Hariri’s murder. After the younger Hariri took over his father’s mantle in 2004, the relationship with Mr Joumblatt endured.
However, the pair have not always been so close. In the run-up to the election last year, Messrs Hariri and Joumblatt went months without speaking over an argument regarding the new proportional electoral law to be used for the first time. Mr Joumblatt worried that a proportional system, which Mr Hariri backed, would see the influence of his small sect diminished.
With so much of Lebanese politics agreed in late-night meetings behind closed doors, the media and pundits put significant weight on how regularly, where and with who senior politicians meet.
In the picture, alongside Messrs Khoury and Hariri were Mr Joumbatt and his wife Nora, PSP politician Wael Abou Faour and Egyptian ambassador to Lebanon Nazih el Nagari.
The picture of the dinner led to a flurry of excitement on Twitter that it signified an imminent government formation. “God willing, white smoke will rise soon and Walid Beik [a nickname for Walid Joumblatt] will accept to give up the minister of industry”, one user replied to the tweet. “Blessings to you…We would like you to form a cabinet”, wrote another.
The next few days will be crucial in determining whether these wishes come true.
