100 days to the start of the Laser World Championships in Oman

100 days to the start of the Laser World Championships in Oman © Mark Lloyd / www.lloydimages.com

Excitement is mounting in Oman with today (Friday 9 August) marking the start of the 100 day countdown to the 2013 Laser World Championships which comes to the Sultanate for the first time in November this year.

It is also the first time the championship is held in the region and with separate events for the Laser Standard, Laser Masters and Laser Radial Youth classes the country is looking forward to welcoming over 450 of the world's best competitors expected from 60 nations over a seven week period from 14 November through to 3 January 2014.

A further 500 visitors are expected to accompany the teams, including race officials, coaches, international media and family members when the world's most popular adult and youth racing class kicks off in Oman.

"The countdown has begun. We are just 100 days away from hosting one of the biggest sporting events ever held in Oman. We are ready and excited about welcoming the greatest sailors from around the world to our shores," said Oman Sail Events Director, Issa Sultan Al Ismaili Al-Ismaili said both Oman Sail and the Omani Ministry of Sports Affairs have ensured that all preparations are ready and in place. Oman Sail had also developed a special website: omanlaserworlds2013.com/eng to enable participants and followers to stay updated with the latest news and information.

"We look forward with immense pleasure to using this event as a platform for showcasing our magnificent country and state-of-the-art Olympic standard sailing venue at Mussanah Sports City that many top sailors already use as a training base.

"But for most of the international sailors it will be their first time to experience the perfect sailing and weather conditions, top class facilities and infrastructure at Mussanah and we are confident the event will help establish it as one of the world's key sailing venues."

He said Oman was also fortunate to have proven experience and expertise in running extremely successful large scale local and international championships from the 2010 Asian Beach Games to the recent RC44 Oman Cup, Extreme Sailing Series and three editions of the home gorwn event Mussanah Race week.

"It is events like these that enhance the visibility of Oman as a unique tourism and premium sailing destination for both competitive and leisure sailing. Many families and friends will be staying on to sample some of the diverse and luxurious adventure holidays on offer, the natural beauty of our deserts, mountains and seas and our treasured heritage that offers a range of authentically rich cultural experiences.

"The international stature of the event will also go a long way to educating the general public about sailing, the Laser World Championships in particular, and in so doing create a lasting sporting legacy for the youth of Oman.

"It will be very inspirational to see our own Omani team competing in home waters in a world championship. With over 160 competitors in the Laser Standard class, 200 in the Masters and 120 in the Laser Radial Youth people will be able to feel the excitement and see firsthand the value and benefit of getting involved in sport."

One of the reasons Oman was chosen as a host country for the championship was because of the Sultanates latest achivements in the sailing and its efforts in developing the sport locally through Oman Sail's highly successful sailing initiative that is contributing to the development of the youth and reviving the country's rich sailing heritage. Since it was launched in 2008, 11,000 young Omani's have been through sail training programmes at grass roots level, a comprehensive youth "pathway to excellence" programme is in place and the country's elite sailing squad is competing worldwide at international events. The ultimate goal is to send a team to the Olympics. The 2013 Laser Senior World Championships will be held from 17 to 23 November, the Laser Masters' from 1st to 7th December and the Laser Radial Youth World Championships from 29th December to 3 January 2014.