Finale of 5th Al Dhafra Grand Kingfish Championship to Take Place 11th to 13th April

The final phase will take place from 11th to 13th April 2024 - WAM
The final phase will take place from 11th to 13th April 2024 - WAM
TT

Finale of 5th Al Dhafra Grand Kingfish Championship to Take Place 11th to 13th April

The final phase will take place from 11th to 13th April 2024 - WAM
The final phase will take place from 11th to 13th April 2024 - WAM

Under the patronage of Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler's Representative in Al Dhafra Region, the Cultural Programs and Heritage Festivals Committee Abu Dhabi has announced the launch of the finale of the 5th Al Dhafra Grand Kingfish Championship for Men and Women on Al Mughirah beach in Al Dhafra city, as part of the Kingfish Fishing Season in Abu Dhabi.

The final phase will take place from 11th to 13th April 2024 in Al Mirfa, Al Dhafra Region, state news agency WAM reported.

Organizers said the competition is an integral part of the kingfish fishing season in Abu Dhabi, aligning with the goal of protecting marine life from overfishing in accordance with national laws.

It also aims to regulate kingfish fishing, uphold traditional heritage competitions that reflect the UAE's maritime heritage, revive local maritime traditions, familiarize the public with the coastlines and islands of the Al Dhafra Region and provide an opportunity for amateurs to engage in traditional fishing.

The competition will also promote and revitalise fishing as a recreational pursuit, foster a spirit of healthy competition among enthusiasts, encourage widespread participation and establish the competition as a seasonal highlight for fishing enthusiasts.

A total of 20 prizes, valued at AED920,000, have been allocated for the final phase of the competition, comprising 10 prizes for the men's category and 10 prizes for the women's category.



‘Flooding Rains’ Threaten to Dampen Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony

Paris 2024 Olympics - Opening Ceremony - Paris, France - July 26, 2024. Spectators are seen behind the Eiffel Tower ahead of the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympics. (Reuters)
Paris 2024 Olympics - Opening Ceremony - Paris, France - July 26, 2024. Spectators are seen behind the Eiffel Tower ahead of the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympics. (Reuters)
TT

‘Flooding Rains’ Threaten to Dampen Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony

Paris 2024 Olympics - Opening Ceremony - Paris, France - July 26, 2024. Spectators are seen behind the Eiffel Tower ahead of the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympics. (Reuters)
Paris 2024 Olympics - Opening Ceremony - Paris, France - July 26, 2024. Spectators are seen behind the Eiffel Tower ahead of the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympics. (Reuters)

The Paris Olympics look likely to get off to a soggy start.

Meteo-France, the French weather service, is predicting “flooding rains” Friday evening when the opening ceremony is set to unroll along the Seine River. But the show is set to go on as planned, starting at 1:30 p.m. EDT/7:30 p.m. CEST and should last more than three hours.

Already in the late afternoon, skies were gray with intermittent drizzle. There was a silver lining, though, with temperatures expected to stay relatively warm throughout the evening.

Instead of a traditional march into a stadium, about 6,800 athletes will parade on more than 90 boats on the Seine River for 6 kilometers (3.7 miles). Though 10,700 athletes are expected to compete at these Olympics, hundreds of soccer players are based outside Paris, surfers are in Tahiti and many have yet to arrive for their events in the second week, organizers said Thursday.

Hundreds of thousands of people, including 320,000 paying and invited ticket-holders, are expected to line the Seine’s banks as athletes are paraded along the river on boats.