Elaborate opening ceremony back as one of the key highlights of the festival; special documentary on RAK to be screened
The 9th Awafi Festival will kick off on December 16, 2011 in Ras Al Khaimah. The Higher Organizing Committee of the festival has revealed that it is organizing an elaborate opening ceremony for the festival to be held at the Awafi Stadium in the Awafi area, which is a key tourist destination in the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah.
Faisal Abdul Aziz Al Matar, General Coordinator of the 9th Awafi Festival, has revealed that the Organizing Committee has approved to re-establish the opening ceremony as a key attraction of the festival after it was left out in the last few editions. The ceremony will reinforce the status of Awafi Festival as one of the major events in the emirate, while enhancing the festive spirit of the activity. Moreover, organizers also aim to further promote the festival among local, regional and international tourists by holding a more elaborate opening ceremony.
Al Matar disclosed that the opening ceremony will last about 45 minutes. One of the key highlights of the ceremony is the screening of a documentary about the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah which has been produced by a Dubai-based company under the supervision of the Higher Organizing Committee of the Festival. The ceremony, which will feature a special fireworks display, will also felicitate the Festival's "guest of honor".
Al Matar also pointed out that the Organizing Committee is working hard to produce a distinctive, elegant, concise and culturally sensitive ceremony that befits the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah and Awafi, highlighting the value of the festival as a great manifestation of the tourism offerings, heritage and natural beauty of the emirate.
The opening-day activities will also include the opening of the new heritage village in the area, and the unveiling of the world's largest gathering of "Toyota" cars, a world-record attempt which is one of the main activities of the festival this year. A representative from the Guinness World Records will be present to witness the attempt. The current record is 223 cars, which was established in the UK.
In the event that a new world record is set, the Guinness World Records representative will officially announce the feat during the opening ceremony.
This year's Awafi Festival features a number of crowd-drawing sporting championships that will gather different teams representing UAE companies, institutions and communities. There will be a football tournament to be held at the Awafi Stadium, a Jiu Jitsu championship in the closed hall of the UAE Club in Saih Albrairat, Ras Al Khaimah, an "arm wrestling" championship, and a "bench press" championship. The Festival will also host a "tug of war" championship, while the Organizing Committee is currently considering hosting a bodybuilding championship as one of the Festival activities.
The Festival's General Coordinator also revealed that the Organizing Committee will announce the official program of the Festival on a later date.
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© Press Release 2011
