Humaid and Marwa carry UAE flag at Asian Beach Games opening ceremony

Humaid Al Baloushi, captain of the UAE national beach soccer team, and Marwa Al Hammadi, athlete of the UAE national sailing team, carried the flag of the UAE at the opening ceremony of the 6th Asian Beach Games, held on Wednesday, in the Chinese city of Sanya, in a scene reflecting the presence and diversity of Emirati sport at this continental event.

The opening ceremony was held at Yasha Park Theatre, blending Asian spirit with distinct Chinese cultural characteristics, alongside the charm of Hainan Island and Sanya’s unique coastal character, under the theme A Date with the Sea and the Sky, with a focus on vitality, openness and joy.

The ceremony featured three main chapters: Passion of the Sea and Sky, Dreams Beneath the Deep Blue, and Connecting the World, highlighting the diversity of Asian civilisations, Hainan’s tropical coastal culture, and the vibrant atmosphere of the host city.

Competition at the Games also gets underway today, Wednesday, with the event running until 30 April. A total of 1,790 male and female athletes representing 45 Asian National Olympic Committees are competing in 14 sports, 15 disciplines and 62 events, in one of Asia’s leading multi-sport beach events.

The UAE is participating with a delegation of 31 male and female athletes competing in four sports: ju-jitsu, sailing, beach soccer and open water swimming.

The Asian Beach Games are among the most important events organised by the Olympic Council of Asia, providing a distinguished competitive platform that brings together elite athletes in beach sports and reflects the development of this category of sport across the Asian continent.