Manama: The competitions of the eighth and largest edition of the Nasser bin Hamad Marine Heritage Season have reached the stage of traditional rowing races, as part of the qualifying round for the final and most prestigious race, His Majesty the King's Cup. The event features three main races: the His Highness Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa Cup, the His Highness Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa Cup, and the Heritage Cup.
According to Bahrain News Agency, this season's competitions have attracted extensive participation, reflecting the growing status of this revered heritage sport within Bahrain and the Gulf region. Around 300 competitors from 19 teams, including three from Oman and one from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), will take part in Friday's race for the Heritage Cup, underlining the Gulf-wide nature of the season and the commitment of Gulf nationals to participate in this major heritage event.
The first race for the Heritage Cup will be held over 3,000 metres, with the boats setting off from the area adjacent to Khalifa bin Salman Park in Al Hidd and reaching the marine area opposite the Bahrain National Museum in Manama.
Traditional rowing races are among the most prominent events in the Nasser bin Hamad Marine Heritage Season, due to their historical and cultural symbolism, documenting the bond between Bahrainis, Gulf inhabitants and the sea, and reflecting the spirit of cooperation and fair competition that characterised the lives of ancestors in their maritime journeys and traditional occupations.
The Nasser bin Hamad Marine Heritage Season is one of the most significant competitions organised by the Bahraini Committee for Inherited Traditional Sports. It aims to revive the maritime heritage for which Bahrain has long been renowned and to reaffirm its role as a regional centre of pearl diving traditions.
This edition includes a variety of competitions, notably open-water swimming (the Heritage Swimmer) across several age groups; the Al Hayer (oyster extraction) contest, with races bearing the names of His Highness Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa and His Highness Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa; the Haddaq (fishing) contest; the famous traditional rowing races; and the Katem al-Nafas (breath-holding) competition, which showcases traditional diving skills. This year also sees the debut of the Nahham competition, featuring an open invitation to Gulf participants to present authentic maritime singing, held within the studios of the Ministry of Information.