A host of events lined up for final day of ‘heritage season’

Under the patronage of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the closing ceremony of the second edition of the “Nasser bin Hamad Marine Heritage Season” will be held today at the Bahrain National Museum.  The Nasser bin Hamad Marine Heritage Season, which started on August 3, is organised by the Bahrain Olympic Committee (BOC)’s Popular Heritage Sports Committee. HM King Hamad will watch the race over the HH Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad’s Cup for the elite and that over the HH Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad’s Cup for the public.

On the occasion, HM the King’s Representative for Charity Work and Youth Affairs, National Security Advisor and Chairman of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports, HH Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, extended deepest thanks and appreciation to HM the King for patronising the closing ceremony of the Marine Heritage Season, stressing that the royal support reflects HM King Hamad’s care for the youth and sports sector, in general and the popular heritage sports, in particular.

HH Shaikh Nasser asserted that the heritage sports are an integral part of the national identity, expressing pride in HM the King’s patronage of the event aimed at preserving Bahrain’s rich marine heritage. The final day of the threemonth season will feature a host of events, such as folk shows, craftsmen’s products and a boat show.

Chairman of the season’s organising committee, Mohammed Janahi, said that the second edition of the HH Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Marine Heritage Season has achieved outstanding success, with the holding of numerous events and competitions which were massively attended by Bahraini youth who showed a great interest in such sports.

Mr Janahi pointed out that a total of 2,000 participants took part in the season’s various competitions, including pearl diving using traditional methods, pearl diving using modern equipment, fishing and rowing, stressing that this year’s edition has succeeded in attracting a great number of Bahraini youth and involving them in beneficial sports activities. On the season’s prizes, he said that they are worth more than half a million US dollars, which, he explained, reflects the extent of care enjoyed by such sports from HM the King and HH Shaikh Nasser.

Mr Janahi hailed the honouring of the winners of various competitions by HH Shaikh Nasser’s and HH Shaikh Khalid’s sons, which, he said, proves the leadership’s interest in promoting heritage sports and increasing the number of those who practise them.