March 30, 2019:  A delegation from the Board of Directors of the Sharjah Marine International Sports Club (SMISC) visited the headquarters of the Sharjah F1 Team, which is participating in the first round of the UIM F1 H20 World Championship the Saudi Grand Prix currently underway in Dammam. 

The delegation, which includes Abdullah Rashid Al Salami, Humaid Ali Al Muhairi and Tariq Saeed Allay, visited the team headquarters. Ahmad Al Hosani, Director of Sharjah International Marine Sports Club and members of the team, accompanied them.

The delegation was briefed on the preparations of the Sharjah Team and the readiness of all crews to participate in the first international competitions. The team was announced in March in the most important international platform for tourism and travel in Berlin, Germany, amid the presence of various European media, and began to complete preparations with the ambition to participate in a number of tournaments International.
 
The delegation also visited the headquarters of the media centre of the championship. The delegation met with the daily newspapers and sports satellite channels coming from the UAE to cover the events and events of the championship for the various participating teams from the UAE, where Tariq Saeed Allay, praised  local and regional flagships and their keenness to attend and cover the events and events of different tournaments in general and in the field of sports in particular, which contributes to the provision of media support to international participants in the name of the UAE in general and specially Emirate of Sharjah  as an important  part of the message of the media towards the national participants and the efforts of tourism and its objectives in publishing and spreading of sports movement and advanced levels, along with culture and heritage.
 
Allay also praised the efforts of the Supreme Organizing Committee and the Saudi Federation of Marine Sports to provide all the needs for media teams from different countries. He said, this reflects the professionalism of the Committee's work in the first rounds of the World Formula1 Championship and the committee’s full cooperation to provide everything that facilitates the work of different media teams of the all-tournament events are integrated.
 
Salami also stressed the importance of participating in the Sharjah World Championships as a professional team seeking to prove  the new team presence in the international competition in comparison to the modernity of the team. He pointed out that the Board of Directors of the Sharjah International Marine Club has checked all the equipment for the team and the readiness of its crew to compete.
 
On his part, Muhairi expressed his happiness with the participation of the Sharjah team in the tour of Dammam, Saudi Arabia which comes in accordance with the strategic vision of the Sharjah Marine Sports Club since years, where the SMISC supervised the implemented  and organized several important events during the past years.
 
He added, the Sharjah team participation in the international competitions is a part of the club’s  vision  to provide a distinct experience for marine sports, especially the Formula 1, which is one of the strongest marine races, in addition to other goals in the training of national cadres and contribute to the promotion of tourism in the emirate of Sharjah.
 
Roaring to go, the two-time world champion Sami Selio is waiting to make to debut with the newly-launched Sharjah Team at the UIM F1 H20 World Championship opener at the Saudi Grand Prix in Dammam.

“I’m very excited to be starting the season with Sharjah Team for the first time, and of course my target is to capture the title again and make sure Sharjah Team finish the year as champions,” said Selio.
 
“I know its going to be tough, but the team has prepared meticulously for the new season and we’re looking forward to getting things under way.”
“It’s good to see Saudi back as a race venue in the championship and I’m looking forward to starting the season, hopefully with the right result for myself and the team.”

The Finn, who is known for his exceptional pace and qualifying prowess and has won 13 Grands Prix, will look to begin season on a high note after finishing eighth with Mad-Croc Baba Racing in 2018.

“I am proud to represent Sharjah. I thank Sharjah International Marine Sports Club for their commitment and support,” Selio said.
 
Earlier, adverse weather conditions continue to frustrate and dictate the time schedule at the UIM F1H2O World Championship season-opener in Dammam on Friday.

For the second day in a row the strong winds of over 30km/h and rough seas have disrupted any on-water activity at this week’s Grand Prix of Saudi Arabia, with race officials confirming that Friday’s official qualifying is postponed.
 
“It is a very frustrating situation we are facing but our ultimate responsibility is the safety of the drivers. We expect the conditions to calm over the next 24hrs and we are provisionally looking to reschedule qualifying to tomorrow.” said Luis Ribeiro, UIM Race Director.