Manama: His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa deputised His Highness Shaikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Personal Representative of His Majesty the King and President of the Supreme Council for the Environment, to attend the closing ceremony of the 8th edition of the Nasser Bin Hamad Marine Heritage Season, held near the Bahrain National Museum. The ceremony was also attended by His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa.
According to Bahrain News Agency, the ceremony commenced with the national anthem, followed by a welcome speech by the deputy patron of the event. The speech highlighted the activities of the 8th edition of the Nasser Bin Hamad Marine Heritage Season, concluding over three months of competitions celebrating Bahrain’s maritime history and heritage, with participation from various age groups.
HH Shaikh Abdullah bin Hamad witnessed the start of several competitions, including the open-water swimming competition for ages 30-45, the swimming race for ages 46 and above, and the final traditional 30-foot rowing race over 3,000 metres for the His Majesty the King Cup, featuring elite teams from Bahrain and other Gulf Cooperation Council countries.
HH Shaikh Abdullah later presented awards to the winners, congratulating all participants and commending their performance. He emphasised that His Majesty the King’s support for traditional sports reflects a commitment to preserving heritage sports, encouraging their development, and motivating Bahraini youth to participate, thereby reinforcing national identity and heritage.
HH Shaikh Abdullah congratulated His Highness Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa and His Highness Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa on the success of the event. He expressed pride in the efforts to revive the Kingdom’s traditions, the wide participation, and the exciting competitions. His Highness thanked the organisers and supervisors, wishing everyone continued success.
In the traditional rowing race for the King’s Cup, the “Ahad Oman” team from Oman secured first place, followed by Bahrain’s “Eisar” team in second and Oman’s “Shabab Sohar” team in third. In the open-water swimming for ages 30-45, Mohamed Yahya Jafan took first place, Mohammed Abdulaziz Al Dosari second, and Hamad Mohamed Al Mansoori third. In the swimming race for ages 46 and above, Sanad Bader Jassim won first place, Abdulrahman Jassim Abdulrahman second, and Nawaf Hamad Majdam third.