The 1st Asian Beach Games were held in Bali, Indonesia from October 18, 2008 to October 26, 2008. The opening ceremony of the 1st Asian Beach Games has been held in the Garuda Wisnu Kencana, a great monumental cultural park in Nusa Dua, the most luxurious region in Bali. About 41 country leaders and several very important persons, including British Royal Family and Qatari Royal Family members, were present at the opening ceremony. Next Beach games will be held in 2010, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman
The games are composed of beach sports such as beach wrestling surfing, windsurfing, sailing, swimming, beach basketball, beach volleyball, beach handball, beach soccer, woodball, waterpolo, triathlon, jet ski, and dragon boat racing.
The
Asian Beach Games is a multi-sport event sanctioned by the Olympic Council of
Asia. The Games will be held every 2 years with the first event held in Bali,
Indonesia last year on the 18th to the 26th of October 2008. A purpose built
Athletes Village is being constructed in Musannah, in an area of approximately 1
million square meters, to host and house the athletes, officials and organizers.
The athletes village will be completed in June 2010 and will house the athletes,
officials, media and organizers. The 11 sports disciplines that will be played
are: Beach Football, Beach Handball, Beach Volleyball, Beach Sepak Takraw, Beach
Kabbadi, Jet Ski, Sailing, Marathon Swimming, Triathlon, Body Building and
Woodball. “The Asian Beach Games deliver a strong message to our youth that fair
and honourable competition is an important hallmark. This is a great opportunity
for the Sultanate of Oman to showcase its natural beauty, unique identity and
intangible heritage to Asia and beyond. We would like to thank the Olympic
Council of Asia for this great honour” commented Ali bin Masoud Al Sunaidy,
Minister of Sports Affairs and Chairman of Oman Olympic Committee.