Powerboats Set Pulses Racing The Pearl-Qatar Waters Doha, Qatar –March 13, 2012: The inaugural of The Pearl-Qatar UIM Powerboat Grand Prix will be held in the waters off the Island 15 to 17 March, 2012 bringing this exhilarating form of watersports back to Doha. The Pearl-Qatar is the title sponsor of the race, organized by the Qatar Marine Sports Federation, which will see the UIM Class 1 Powerboat racing season kick off for 2012 in exciting fashion. His Excellency Sheikh Hassan bin Jabor Al-Thani, President of Qatar Marine Sports Federation (QMSF) and driver of Spirit of Qatar 96, is relishing the tie-in with the Pearl-Qatar to stage the opening round of the UIM Class 1 World Powerboat Championship. “Everyone involved in the race will be able to benefit from the first class facilities that The Pearl-Qatar offers,” said Sheikh Hassan. “This year’s Class 1 racing series looks set to be the most competitive in many years and is sure to draw a large number of spectators to the facility.” The race circuit will start and end at The Pearl-Qatar marina. The Pearl-Qatar, home of watersports and boating in Qatar, has one of the finest and biggest marinas in the Middle East and is able to berth more than 1,000 boats. There will be a boat service for spectators so that they can get close to the vessels docked at The Pearl-Qatar Marina. Visitors will also be able to watch the action on big screens inside the first class restaurants and cafes on the Island. Abdulrahim Al Ibrahim Director of The Pearl-Qatar Central Authority Directorate (TCAD) said "The Island is the perfect base for the Grand Prix powerboats and teams for the event – offering a perfect mix of a watersports venue and high end facilities for spectators”. “We at United Development Company (UDC), master developer of the project, always welcome such initiatives and offer a perfect mix of water sports venue and high-end facilities for the success of the event, especially that The Pearl - Qatar marina has a lot of advantages. We encourage various sporting activities. Besides, these activities have an important part to play in improving human health, development of relationships with others, and in strengthening relationship between people of different culture” he said. The UIM Powerboat circuit takes competitors around the globe with races in Norway, Italy and the United Arab Emirates. - ILQ news -

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