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.