ADOR SENDS UAE ‘HIGH SEAS’ CONGRATULATIONS FOR 43rd NATIONAL DAY
With 13 days to go until its expected arrival in the UAE capital,Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing (ADOR), the emirate’s entrant in the round-the world Volvo Ocean Race (VOR) 2014/ 2015, has sent congratulations to the Emirates on the country’s 43rd National Day via a special video message from onboard its yacht ‘Azzam’.
The message, which was broadcast across a number of leading local media outlets and via ADOR’s popular social media channels, comes ahead of the team’s highly anticipated stopover in Abu Dhabi, as part of the VOR’s second Leg, which is expected to finish on 14 December 2014. The team celebrated National Day at sea as part of its countdown to arriving ‘home’.
Adil Khalid, the Emirati sailor onboard, and the only Arab to complete the global race, said: “I’d like to congratulate the UAE people on the 43rd National Day and may God continue to bless the nation with peace and security.”.
“Aboard Azzam, we’re doing our best to represent the UAE with pride and we’re looking forward to our arrival at our home port in Abu Dhabi in less than two weeks, where we hope to make the country and all our fans proud through a victory in Leg 2 of the Volvo Ocean Race.”
Azzam is part of the hardy VOR fleet which will be in Abu Dhabi from mid-December until January 3 as part of the Leg 2 Stopover when the city will celebrate with a Stopover festival centered around a purpose-built Destination Village on its stunning Corniche Breakwater.
Ian Walker, British Olympic silver medallist and ADOR’s skipper also extended his national day congratulations:
“This is a day to celebrate the nation’s progress and rich history while remembering founding fathers and looking to the future with great optimism,” he said.
Hosted by Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi),the VOR Stopover in the UAE’s capital will begin December 12 and feature three weeks of sailing action, watersports, entertainment and family fun. In addition there’ll be a series of activities that specifically revolve around the UAE’s rich heritage and deeply-rooted culturesuch as an ‘Emirati Festival Day’, folk music performances and falconry displays by the Abu Dhabi Falconer’s Club (ADFC). Over 175,000 visitors are expected through the Destination Village for which entry is free.
