Harlequins pros in Abu Dhabi for Etihad Rugby Scools

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 11:57:15 GMT

The Etihad Airways Junior Rugby Festival kicked off today with the hosting of the Etihad Harlequins Rugby Schools in Abu Dhabi.

Harlequins’ Director of Rugby, Conor O’Shea, and first team player, Ollie Smith, along with four professional coaches from the London-based club have flown into Abu Dhabi to deliver the specialised coaching clinics to local school children.

During the next four days, more than 400 children between the ages of 7 to 14 years will take part in the coaching sessions held by the Harlequins Community Rugby Coaches.

The Rugby Schools attract participation from many Emirati and expatriate schools based in Abu Dhabi, enabling children to learn and develop the required skills to play rugby.

During the first session held today, 100 children from Emirates National School, Al Mushrif Primary, Al Yasmina School and Brighton College Abu Dhabi, thoroughly enjoyed their first experience of rugby. The final day will involve children who have been selected through competitions by sponsors and local media partners.

Underlining its commitment to grass roots sport in the UAE, Etihad Airways has used its main sponsor status of London-based rugby club, Harlequins, to help promote rugby in the local community.

Peter Baumgartner, Etihad Airways’ Chief Commercial Officer, said: “Etihad is proud to bring the best talent from our global sporting partners to Abu Dhabi to enhance the development of local sport. This year’s Rugby Festival has got off to a great start and we look forward to the event growing in success year-on-year.”

Conor O’Shea, Harlequins Director of Rugby, said: “I am delighted that Harlequins are able to support Etihad in developing rugby within the UAE once again. The Harlequins club staff and players thoroughly enjoy getting involved with the Etihad Harlequins Rugby Schools.

"It is a great way to boost the number of children taking up rugby within the emirate of Abu Dhabi and you never know we may also see some young players with the potential to play at the highest level.”

Following the Etihad Harlequins Rugby Schools, Etihad will jointly host with the Abu Dhabi Harlequins Rugby Club, the region’s largest junior rugby tournament, at the same location on 28 and 29 October. More than 1,800 children will take part in the two day knockout tournament.

Mohammed Al Mahmood, Abu Dhabi Sports Council’s General Secretary, said: “The Junior Rugby Festival is a fantastic sporting initiative for the emirate of Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi Sports Council wishes to express its support and thanks Etihad Airways, Harlequins and all the event partners for leading the way with the Middle East's youth rugby programme."

The Etihad Airways Junior Rugby Festival has been well supported by several companies in Abu Dhabi. Etihad would like to thank HSBC as presenting sponsors, and Abu Dhabi Sports Council, Al Ain Water, Park Inn by Radisson, Zayed Sports City, Abu Dhabi Week and Sport 360 for their contribution.

Etihad Airways Supporting to Volvo Ocean Race as it Plots Course for Abu Dhabi

Mon, 10 Oct 2011 10:51:51 GMT

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, has signed a multi-tiered agreement with Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) to support the emirate’s involvement in the 2011/12 Volvo Ocean Race.

The deal sees Etihad Airways’ logo featured prominently on the hull and sails of ADTA’s Volvo Ocean Race yacht, Azzam (Arabic for determination), as well as across its Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing team clothing during the 2011/12 global event.

Etihad Airways also becomes presenting sponsor of the fortnight-long race stopover in Abu Dhabi, which begins on New Year’s Eve at the purpose-built ‘Destination Village’ on the Corniche Breakwater, as well as title sponsor of the In-Port Race on January 13, 2012.

The airline’s destination management company, Hala Abu Dhabi, becomes the preferred travel partner for the Abu Dhabi stopover.

“This race will take Abu Dhabi and our national carrier into key source markets where we will bring our combined market muscle to bear in optimising this unique opportunity for our mutual benefits,” said His Excellency Mubarak Al Muhairi, Director General, ADTA - which is behind Abu Dhabi’s involvement with the race.

The Volvo Ocean Race 2011/12, which begins in Alicante, Spain on October 29 and concludes in Galway, Ireland in summer 2012, is a 39,000 nautical mile, nine-month, round-the-world sailing race, taking in 10 destinations over nine gruelling legs across four oceans.

As the first-ever Arabian hosting of the Volvo Ocean Race, the stopover will bring significant exposure to Abu Dhabi through a number of enhanced promotional activities and awareness initiatives planned.

The race will also serve as a platform to showcase Etihad Airways and the UAE capital to a global audience via Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing’s pursuit of top honours in the race.

The team will make history as the first Middle Eastern challenger to enter the race, sailing its state-of-the-art Volvo Open 70 race yacht, Azzam.

James Hogan, Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Airways, said: “We are delighted to partner Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing and welcome the yachts, sailors and thousands of visitors to Abu Dhabi as they fly in from around the world on our airline to be part of the Volvo Ocean Race 2011/12 spectacle.

“Etihad Airways has a strong association with elite sport worldwide, through partnerships with Manchester City Football Club and the Formula 1™ Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, and we look forward to becoming a part of the exhilarating world of ocean racing.”

Plans are well underway for Abu Dhabi’s hosting of the Volvo Ocean Race 2011/12 yachting fleet and its thousands of fans this New Year, with a fortnight of activities scheduled around the event.

The purpose-built Destination Village will be the focal point for Abu Dhabi as it welcomes the procession of awe-inspiring racing yachts, sea hardened sailors and more than 100,000 fans for the third leg stopover of the Volvo Ocean Race. It will open free of charge to the public from December 31 2011 – January 14 2012.

ADTA has committed to a fully-packed entertainment program for the stopover, including exhibitions, shows, simulators, hospitality, game zones, restaurants and cafes, sailing academies, shops and concerts.

With Etihad Airways and Hala Abu Dhabi, ADTA is also developing tailored holiday race packages for international travellers. Visitors can look forward to these signature events during the race’s stopover in Abu Dhabi:
• Destination Village Opens: December 31, 2011
• New Year’s Eve Party @ Volvo Ocean Race Abu Dhabi Stopover: December 31, 2011
• Arrival ceremony of Volvo Ocean Race yachts: January 1-2, 2012 (approx)
• Pro-Am Race: January 12, 2012
• In-Port Race: January 13, 2012
• Departure ceremony of Volvo Ocean Race yachts: January 14, 2012

Led by double-Olympic medallist Ian Walker of Great Britain, Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing is the most intercontinental team ever entered into the Volvo Ocean Race.

Representing five continents, the crew also boasts two UAE nationals – 22-year-old Olympian Adil Khalid and 27-year-old Butti Al Muhairi – who beat more than 120 hopefuls to earn their places on the sailing and shore teams respectively. Their participation will mark the first time a Gulf national has competed in this ultimate endurance race.

About Etihad Airways

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, began operations in 2003, and in 2010 carried more than seven million passengers. From its hub at Abu Dhabi International Airport, Etihad serves 86 passenger and cargo destinations in the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia and North America, with a fleet of 63 Airbus and Boeing aircraft, and 100 aircraft on order, including 10 Airbus A380s, the world’s largest passenger aircraft. For more information, please visit: www.etihadairways.com

About the Volvo Ocean Race

The Volvo Ocean Race traces its origins back to 1973 and is the world’s premier offshore sailing race. The Volvo Open 70 racing boat is sailed by professional athletes, who race around the world.

For media information on the Volvo Ocean Race, please visit http://press.volvooceanrace.org

Editors’ Notes: The Volvo Ocean Race
• The Volvo Ocean Race 2011/12 will start in the Spanish port of Alicante October 29 and finish in Galway, Ireland during the summer of 2012
• The first 31,250 nautical-mile race first took place over 38 years ago (as the Whitbread Round the World Race 1973-74), testing the crews against some of the most ferocious elements that man can encounter
• The 2011-12 race will be the 11th edition of the event
• This will be the first time the Middle East has formed part of the route for the Volvo Ocean Race
• Lying on the Arabian Gulf, Abu Dhabi has a rich maritime tradition as a trading port. Throughout its history, the iconic dhow has plied the trade routes between the city and its neighbouring countries

Etihad Airways Junior Rugby Festival Set to Take Place in Abu Dhabi

Mon, 03 Oct 2011 10:43:24 GMT

Photo caption:

Etihad cabin crew members, Lenka Horakova and Patra Apichairuk join in the fun with two players from Abu Dhabi Harlequins under 7s side.

Etihad Airways’ fourth annual Junior Rugby Festival is set to take place at Zayed Sports City in Abu Dhabi on October 17 through to October 29, with a record 2,200 school children aged between 5 and 18 years planned to participate.

The festival, which is the largest youth rugby event of its kind in the region, consists of two key events – the Etihad Airways Harlequins Rugby Schools and the Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Harlequins Junior Rugby Tournament.

Through its sponsorship of London-based rugby club, Harlequins, Etihad has again secured the participation of ex-Irish International and Harlequins Director of Rugby, Conor O’Shea, who will scout local youth rugby talent during the events. Also in attendance will be Harlequins’ first team player, Ollie Smith, and members from the Harlequins Community Rugby Coaches.

This year will see Harlequins’ mascots, Harley and Charley, join the players and coaches for the very first time at the rugby schools before embarking on a tour of Abu Dhabi to visit a selection of schools and major landmarks.

Peter Baumgartner, Etihad Airways’ Chief Commercial Officer, said: “Etihad Airways is proud to deliver its fourth Junior Rugby Festival. Building on the success of last year’s festival, this year we are set to see children participating from more than nine countries, including Russia, UK and several countries from the GCC.

“We very much appreciate the close partnership with the Abu Dhabi Sports Council and with support from our global sporting partners, we remain committed to bringing sports excitement to Abu Dhabi and the region and contributing to the development of local grassroots sport.”

Marcus Hurry, Deputy CEO, HSBC Bank Middle East Limited, added: “HSBC is proud to be the presenting partner of one of the biggest junior rugby competitions in the region. At this year’s Etihad Airways Junior Rugby Festival, HSBC Ambassador, Jason Robinson will lead a number of coaching clinics for kids.”

”The UAE is fast developing into a regional and international hub for rugby and we hope to help continue to grow the game here with our support for the game at all levels through our growing portfolio of rugby partnerships.”

As the Supporting Partner of the event, Abu Dhabi Sports Council is assisting with the organisation of schools to attend the event and with an outreach day to the Western Region.

Mohammed Al Mahmood, Abu Dhabi Sports Council’s General Secretary, said: “The Etihad Airways Junior Rugby Festival is a fantastic sporting initiative for the emirate of Abu Dhabi. The outreach day in the Western Region will enable local children to experience rugby for the first time.

“Abu Dhabi Sports Council wishes to express its support, and thanks Etihad Airways, Harlequins and all the event partners for leading the way with the Middle East's youth rugby programme."

Conor O’Shea, Harlequins Director of Rugby, added: “Harlequins are honoured to continue supporting Etihad in their efforts to develop rugby within the UAE. With Rugby World Cup fever gripping the nation, the Harlequins club staff and players are excited about attending the Festival later this month and it is a great chance for us to see the local talent first hand.”

The inaugural Etihad Airways Junior Rugby Festival took place in 2008 and attracted more than 1,600 youngsters, both local and international, who took part in the rugby clinics and two-day junior tournament.

Following the Rugby Schools, Etihad Airways will jointly host with the Abu Dhabi Harlequins Rugby Club the region’s largest junior rugby tournament on October 28 and 29, also at Zayed Sports City. More than 1,800 children, a record for the yearly event, will take part in the two day knockout tournament.

Top Articles Tagged with abu-dhabi

Harlequins pros in Abu Dhabi for Etihad Rugby Scools

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Etihad Airways Junior Rugby Festival Set to Take Place in Abu Dhabi