One month of Grand Prix entertainment

The UAE capital will be a city of entertainment and festivities for a month as the country prepares to host the biggest ever sporting event – the 2009 Formula One Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

According to organisers, the entire city and Yas Island, the fun district of the emirate where the Grand Prix will be held in November, will host numerous events.

The Grand Prix has been organised with an aim to make the city the regional hub for entertainment and cultural activities.

Flash Entertainment, an Abu Dhabi-based events company organising the event, at a Formula One curtain raiser ceremony yesterday, announced the festival called Yasalam (wow or amazing), which will provide the month-long events ranging from live music shows to sports demonstrations across the city and on Yas Island.

All the activities will kick-off from October 2 and conclude on November 1, the day for the grand show on the island.

The events, according to the organisers, are also expected to boost Abu Dhabi's hospitality industry.

"There will be fun and entertainment for a month in the entire city, involving universities, schools, shopping malls, hotels and public places. These events will attract visitors during the month," said John Lickrish, Managing Director of Flash Entertainment.

"The entire Corniche will be opened for public providing free entertainment. The events at the Corniche include beats on the beach, providing live music shows for five nights."

The festivities, which also includes Formula One activities and cultural shows, on the Corniche and a four-night live concert on Yas Island featuring names such as Beyonce, Timbaland and Aerosmith will attract about 60,000 to 70,000 people, he told reporters.

The Yasalam Live on the Corniche, according to Lickrish, include F1 Fan Zone, featuring motorsport-flavoured entertainment, a Brazilian parade celebrating the South American F1 conclusion with stilt walkers and other entertainers, Cinema by Sea screening entertaining car films and Beats on the Beach, featuring Arab and international performers such as UAE's Hussein Al Jasmi and Reggae masters Wailers.

About traffic and parking problems during the events, Richard Cregan, CEO of Abu Dhabi Motorsporting Management, said the organisers are working along with all stakeholders in the capital city.

He said: "We have a parking and transport strategy that is going well. There will be no problem for parking during the events as space for 1,000 vehicles is already ready near Emirates Palace in addition to the existing parking lots along the Corniche."

Cregan said to help ease traffic congestion and parking problem, special rapid public transports will be provided along the Corniche for short distances and on routes between all the event-hosting points, including Yas.

However, he said, Yas Island will be restricted to invitees and ticket holders during live concerts and the grand prix.

About tickets, he said sales are continuing online and through franchised outlets and more than 65,000 tickets are expected to be sold for the final show.

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