Bahamas set to host 2019 Aqua X World Championships

Bahamas set to host 2019 Aqua X World Championships

NASSAU, BAHAMAS- In less than a month the Bahamas’ sports tourism product is set to expand as the country prepares to host the 2019 Aqua X World Championships.

The inaugural event takes place November 8-10 in Nassau Harbour.

Over 40 of the top professional jet ski riders in the world, who qualified through a series of races throughout the United States and Europe earlier in the year, will compete in The Bahamas.

CEO of P1 Aqua X, Azam Rangoonwala said that he looks forward to partnering with The Bahamas’ Ministry of Tourism in this initiative.

“We want to create this as a foundation for the sport. This is really a growth project and we hope that year after year we will keep coming back here to grow this venue,” he said.

“It’s been a natural progression from the opening race season in the UK in 2011 to the series expanding to the USA two years later and then in mainland Europe in 2017. The rapidly increasing number of riders, partners and fans has been tremendous and the close relations with leading manufacturers have added considerably to the legitimacy of the series.

Along with the Ministry of Tourism, the Atlantis Resort also serves as a major partner for the event.

“We are very excited about this event. We have been working on this now for about 10 months to where we are today which is just placing the final logistics to get this thing on the road. It is a two-year deal so we know it will be here next year and depending on what we see will continue for years and years as well,” said Atlantis senior vice president of public affairs Ed Fields. “These are destination events that not only bring attention and excitement to the Bahamas but it gives things for our visitors as well as our residents to do so we are very fortunate to have this event.”

The weekend of racing will be live-streamed on the P1 Aqua X Facebook page. Tickets for the event start at $15 and can be purchased at the Atlantis Box Office at the Atlantis’ Coral Towers by calling 363-6601 or via email at box.office@atlantisparadise.com.

Joy Jibrilu, director general in the Ministry of Tourism and Aviation added: “The Bahamas is coming off two very historic years in terms of tourism numbers. There was a recognition between the public sector and private sector that that momentum may be a bit difficult to maintain, so we have to do these things that are different, that are unique.”

 

 

 

About Randy Smith

Randy Smith is the producer of the widely-watched local television show “Beyond The Headlines” and the web content manager of Eyewitness News. He joined Eyewitness News as a sportscaster in 2018, a role he still performs, and has previously covered a slew of international sporting events, including the 2015 Pan American Games, the Nike EYBL Showcase, several IAAF World Relays, the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup, the Commonwealth Youth Games, the Bahamas Bowl and multiple CARIFTA Swimming and Track & Field Championships. Randy has been recognized by the Bahamas Press Club with awards for “Best Sports Broadcast” as a sportscaster and “Best TV Talk Show” as a producer.