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Racing festival to highlight endurance events across Europe

The four countries which will be the venue of the festival’s races are France, Italy, Portugal and Slovakia.

Lara Sawaya along with officials at the Press conference in Abu Dhabi. — Supplied photo

The Shaikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival is set to stage four endurance events across the European continent, including the 120km FEI HH Shaikha Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship, it was revealed on Sunday.

“Under the directives of Shaikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, the endurance and flat races will be combined together under the umbrella of the HH Shaikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival,” said Lara Sawaya, director of the Shaikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival and chairman of the Ladies Racing Committee in the International Federation of Arabian Horse Racing Authorities (IFAHR).

Speaking to newsmen at the Eastern Mangroves hotel Suite 321 at the Shaikh Mansour Festival Lounge, Sawaya said: “I would like above all to thank the Portuguese ambassador to the UAE, Jimmy Van Zeller Laitau for coming, pointing out that the festival has started sponsoring endurance races last year and it is carrying on for the second season.”

“The four countries which will be the venue of the festival’s races are France, Italy, Portugal and Slovakia. And we are directed by Shaikh Mansour bin Zayed to observe and abide with the rules and regulations of the FEI in all our activities,” she said.

Ian Williams, FEI endurance director said: “The endurance rules and regulations have been designed to accommodate and encourage all the family members to create a true sporting environment and the HH Shaikha Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies Endurance World Championship is the best opportunity to push forward this trend.

“We are truly obliged to the vision of the Shaikh Mansour bin Zayed to support the equine sport and upgrade the standards of performance in this discipline. We are here to work on this initiative to develop the work relationship with the festival,” he said.

Meanwhile, Nicolas Wahlen, representing France, Diego Albiero from Italy, Rogerio Da Silva of Portugal and Roelof Roux of Slovaia, spoke on behalf of the endurance governing bodies in the host countries of the four races. They have all expressed their delight to be in Abu Dhabi to watch the President’s Cup and attend this important news conference. Portugal hosts the first event from April 25 to 27, France from May 23 to 27, Italy from July 25 to 27 and Slovakia on September 27.

Nadim Lahad, representing Emirates Airline noted that they are not mere transporters of the festival, but they are part of its success.

“With our growing network, we are shouldering the responsibility of carrying the message and vision of the festival to the rest of the world,” he said.

Mubarak Al Nuaimi, reiterated the determination of the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority to provide the highest level of support and backing to the festival throughout the year and around the world.