Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Abu Dhabi Adventure Challenge draws dazzling field

MEDIA RELEASE: As the details of this year’s exciting Abu Dhabi Adventure Challenge resonate throughout adventure racing’s global community, a number of special schemes aimed at encouraging rookie teams inject youthful flair into an already outstanding international field.

Last year’s inaugural edition of The Abu Dhabi Adventure Challenge boasted a field of 27 co-ed teams hailing from 15 different nations. This year the numbers are already up and the competition, to be held from the 12th to the 17th December, is promising a bigger and wider-ranging selection as teams from around the world flock to this enthralling season closer. The ranks of the returning teams who, having once experienced the thrill of racing across some of the Emirates’ most stunning natural attractions are determined to make this innovative event a perennial fixture, have been swollen by a host of newcomers, lured by the mysterious beauty of the country and the prospect of measuring themselves against the world’s best.

Of the already eleven teams totally new to this event no doubt a significant number will be racing in the hope of cashing in, literally, on one of the innovative motivational concepts
implemented this year in an effort to promote the sport and encourage as many newcomers as possible to participate in this exciting season finale. The four top teams, one from each of the following four continental zones, Europe, North - South America, Asia - Oceania and The Middle East – Africa, racing for the first time in The Abu Dhabi Adventure Challenge, will each receive the sum of 2,500 USD on top of any other prize money they win. Belgians, Brazilians, Irish
and Andorrans are just a few among the hopeful.

Along these intrepid first timers, and in a line-up that includes such world-renowned inveterate victors like NIKE (USA), a close second in 2007, and third place WILSA SPORT-HELLY HANSEN from France, will be five rookie teams qualified through an award process devised by the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA). The awards are designed to promote the sport by helping teams with a proven track record in local races to pursue their racing career internationally. The basis on which the award is allocated is simple and the same for all events: - the award is given to the best ‘local’ (defined according to each event) team in the overall ranking that has never raced before outside the country or region. The award includes the entry fee of 3,500 Euros and 4 return tickets to Abu Dhabi.

These measures will not only add excitement and intrigue to this year’s race but
will also go some way to ensuring a prosperous and illustrious future for the sport.

Live race coverage and information at www.abudhabi-adventure.com

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