ABU DHABI, 5th March, 2023 (WAM) — The World Triathlon Championships Series in Dammam, Abu Dhabi, concluded on Saturday with some impressive and energetic performances by members of the local community and regional athletes. The show, featuring the best in triathlon.
Following Friday’s elite men’s and women’s races and the Handicap Cup race, the iconic Yas Marina circuit welcomed a flood of amateurs across all age groups.
The age group competition offers athletes of all abilities from 74 countries the opportunity to participate in the season opener of this prestigious global event. Over the weekend, the event welcomed more than 1,000 athletes, cheered by spectators around the venue and in the fan village.
Participating regional nations include the UAE team as their athletes begin their quest to qualify for the age-group world championships in Pontevedra in September.
Olivier Godart, who has lived in the UAE for more than 20 years, was among those competing on Saturday. He was full of praise for the event, saying: “I’ve always loved racing on the Yas Marina Circuit because it’s a great place to finish a race. Glad to be doing well.
“I love the sport and the training and the whole process. The number of people taking part shows how popular triathlon is and I think it can grow a lot if people watch the sport more and see what it’s really like. Like What we’ve seen from Alex Yee in the Classics has been great and will inspire a lot of people to follow in his footsteps.”
In addition to racing, people enjoy family-friendly entertainment and activities at the Event Village in the F1 pit lane.
This is the eighth year that Abu Dhabi has hosted the World Triathlon Championships series, and the age group categories underscore the popularity of triathlon in the UAE and globally. Great Britain’s Alex Yee and Beth Potter won the men’s and women’s divisions respectively in Friday’s race, with the junior division also held.
Mohammad Ahmed Rumaiti, Director of International Events at Abu Dhabi Sports Council, said: “The 2023 Abu Dhabi World Triathlon Championships Series demonstrates why triathlon has become one of the most Not only does it attract the best athletes in the world, it also provides opportunities for members of the local community to experience the sport in a highly competitive environment.
“It was such a joy to see so many adults and children of all ages, nationalities and abilities – including determined athletes – embrace the event and see the smiles on their faces as they crossed the finish line. It really shows The power of sport and its impact on people’s lives.
“Driving participation through sport and empowering people to adopt healthy lifestyles is fundamental to our mission, and we hope this year’s event will inspire more adults and children to try the sport and compete in future triathlons.”
Hamad Abdullah Al Mehyas, CEO of Daman, said: “We are extremely proud to be partnering with the World Triathlon Championships Finals in Abu Dhabi and bringing world-class international sport to the nation’s capital. By doing so, we are helping Consolidate Abu Dhabi’s reputation as a regional center of international sports excellence.
“We are delighted to see the level of community engagement this year has been as good as ever. The triathlon is just one of many initiatives in Daman to encourage everyone to be more active, thereby helping to improve health, fitness and wellbeing. We wish all involved in the Good luck accepting the challenge.”