Oman invites Asia to celebrate one year countdown to 2nd ABG Muscat 2010

Oman invites Asia to celebrate one year countdown to 2nd ABG Muscat 2010

Muscat, OMAN: The Asian Olympic Family will join Oman in celebration of the one year countdown to the 2nd Asian Beach Games Muscat 2010 on December 8, 2009 in Muscat. During the Muscat 2010 One Year Countdown Celebration, which will be endorsed by H.H. Sayyid Haitham bin Tariq Al Said, Minister of Heritage and Culture and Muscat Asian Beach Games Organising Committee (MABGOC) Chairman, the official Games Invitation will be presented to the 45 Asian National Olympic Committees welcoming their participation in the 2nd Asian Beach Games.

Dignitaries, sports leaders and VIP guests including OCA President Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah, and representatives from the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) Family, local government officials, National Olympic Committee representatives, international and Asian federations will join MABGOC to reveal the Countdown Clock. The design for the clock has been kept in confidence since a public competition was held earlier this year. Ideally located between Sultan Qaboos Road and the Ministries Road, the clock will count-down the days to the kick-off of the 2nd Asian Beach Games. Following the Games the clock will remain as a legacy marking the special milestone.

MABGOC Director General expressed the organisers’ excitement in welcoming guests to the One Year Countdown celebrations and to the Games to be held in December 2010.

"We are eager to present to Asia and to the world, what Oman has to offer as we host the continents' athletes in December 2010. Oman has been preparing since 2006 to welcome Asia in the spirit of sport, and the One Year Countdown is a major milestone in our preparations as we lead up to Games-time. Our recently announced Games slogan denotes our anticipation in welcoming Asia to Oman's shores to participate in the 2nd Asian Beach Games - Together We Shine – expresses how we are ready to greet the 45 Asian countries and regions to this festival of culture and sport," he said.

The 2nd Asian Beach Games is a multi-sport event sanctioned by the Olympic Council of Asia and will be held December 8-16,2010.The Games encourage Asia's youth to participate in sport and celebrate the vast and varied cultures found across the continent. It works to uplift national pride and create a festival of cooperation and camaraderie. The Asian Beach Games are composed of a variety of modern sports as well as variations on traditional sports.12 sports are on the Muscat 2010 programme: beach soccer, beach handball, beach kabaddi, beach sepaktakraw, beach volleyball, beach woodball, bodybuilding, jetski, marathon swimming, sailing, tent pegging and triathlon.

2nd Asian Beach Games prepares for one-year countdown

The press conference of the second Asian Beach Games

"The second Asian Beach Games is more than just a sporting event; it is a way for each of the countries and regions in Asia to share their unique traditions and cultures with the rest of the continent," stated Muscat Asian Beach Games Organising Committee (MABGOC) Director General Habib Macki in a press conference on December 6, Muscat, Oman.He introduced the one year countdown celebrations to the second Asian Beach Games Muscat 2010 to be held on Tuesday (December 8).

The press conference headed also by MABGOC Deputy Director General for Operations Taha Al-Kishry and MABGOC Deputy Director General for Support Shabib Al-Hosni presented to the media the arrangements for the event themed "The Countdown has Begun!"

The countdown celebrations, held under the auspices of H.H. Sayyid Haitham bin Tariq Al Said, Minister of Heritage and Culture and Muscat Asian Beach Games Organising Committee (MABGOC) Chairman, will receive around 200 guests including OCA President Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah and HRH Prince Haji Sufri Bolkiah of Brunei Darussalam.

Performance groups including the Al Fan Al Bahri from Oman, Theatre of Dance"NAZ" from Kazakhstan, Shandong Songand Dance Troupe from China, and Bangra Panjabi Band from India will join the celebration with traditional dances after revealing the 8.1 metre high countdown clock located at the Sultan Qaboos Road. MABGOC will present to representatives from the five Asian zones the Official Games Invitation, extending Omani welcome to the 45 Asian countries and regions participating in the second Asian Beach Games next year.

The event which will be broadcasted live on Oman TV 2 at 19:30 on 8 December will also mark the launching of the new Games branding.

MABGOC Deputy Director General of Support Shabib Al-Hosni explained: "Our overall creative direction with the Brand will give the Games a fresh distinctive look while incoporating traditional Omani elements and history, and on the other hand the youthful energy of sport."

Promotional poster of Muscat 2010 Asian Beach Games (1)

Promotional poster of Muscat 2010 Asian Beach Games (2)

Promotional poster of Muscat 2010 Asian Beach Games (3)

Promotional poster of Muscat 2010 Asian Beach Games (4)

At the countdown celebration, the new branding will debut the Games Lookand Feel along the Sultan Qaboos road to heat up the preparations of the second Asian Beach Games Muscat 2010, and extend the Omani welcome to all attending guests from local and abroad.

The second Asian Beach Games is a multi-sport event sanctioned by the Olympic Council of Asia and will be held December 8 -16, 2010. The Games encourage Asia's youth to participate in sport and celebrate the vast and varied cultures found across the continent. It works to uplift national pride and create a festival of cooperation and camaraderie. The Asian Beach Games are composed of a variety of modern sports as well as variations on traditional sports. Twelve sports are on the Muscat 2010 programme: beach soccer, beach handball, beach kabaddi, beach sepaktakraw, beach volleyball, beach woodball, bodybuilding, jetski, marathon swimming, sailing, tent pegging and triathlon.