September 8/06 9:50 am - Bahrain Bids for Road Worlds

Posted by Editor on 09/8/06
 

Bahrain Bids for 2010 Road World Championships

Official release:

The Kingdom of Bahrain have officially confirmed today that they are candidates for the rights to host the 2010 Road Cycling World Championships, one of the most prestigious international-level events and the pinnacle of professional cycling. The Kingdom announced their decision after an official visit by the International Cycling Union (UCI) to inspect the available facilities and the potential for a World Championship course providing competitors with a new and unique challenge.

Bahrain is no newcomer to hosting international level events and has been the host country for a wide range of World-Class international events including the annual Gulf Air Bahrain Formula 1 GP held at the landmark Bahrain International Circuit (BIC). The Kingdom's professional organisation of the Grand Prix was also recognised by the F1 community in the form of the prestigious "Best Organiser" award received in 2004.

Cycling is another sport well established both in the Kingdom and regionally with the increased awareness of the available Regional Championship activities being organised by the Asian Cycling Federations where Bahrain has achieved strong recognition as being one of the top teams around. "Cycling has come a long way in the last two years and we have been able to make our mark in the regional scene" expressed Sh. Khalid bin Hamed Al-Khalifa, President of the Bahrain Cycling Association (BCA) under the patronage of the President of The General Organization for Youth and Sports (GOYS) Sh. Fawaz Bin Mohammed Al-Khalifa.

The Local Organising Committee bidding on behalf of the Kingdom will comprise of a number of elected representative officials providing the resources to demonstrate to the international community that Bahrain is a serious contender and the ideal host nation for the 2010 World Championships, especially when considering the event has never been held in the Middle-East region. It is with this passion for competitive sport and the Kingdom of Bahrain's excellent reputation for organising world-class events that the Bahraini Delegation hopes to convince the UCI and the international cycling community that the 2010 UCI Cycling World Championships belong in Bahrain.


Editor's Note: For those of you who aren't knowledgeable on Bahrain, which means "two seas", it is an archipelago in the Persian Gulf off the coast of Saudi Arabia. Oil is the major source of income (what a surprise). The georgraphy is described as "the islands for the most part are level expanses of sand and rock." A causeway connects Bahrain to Saudi Arabia.