Asian Beach Games in Bali 2008

The 1st annual Asian Beach Games will be held in Bali in 2008. Bali is increasingly on the world’s radar as an event location and the Asian Beach Games will add to that. Here’s more from the Jakarta Post.

Bali to host Asian Beach Games next year

DENPASAR (Antara): Bali will host the 1st Asian Beach Games on Oct. 18 - 26 next year, spokesman of the event said on Monday.

“Some 5,000 athletes from 45 countries are expected to take part in the event which will compete 13 numbers,” Indra Kartasasmita told the press when socializing the event.

All the numbers competed will be held in all beaches in the island, including in Sanur, Nusa Dua, Jimbaran, Kuta and Benoa, he added.

Among the 13 numbers are surfing, wind surfing, wood sport, diving, takraw, marathon swimming and traditional boat.

Bali’s allure means it can draw visitors, when the event is publicized enough. The Ubud Writers & Readers Festival is billed as one of the premier literary events in the world, with people coming from New York, Sydney and many other places. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change will take place in Bali in December 2007, with 189 countries participating. Bali has the name and the convention center facilities to handle this kind of event. The possibilities for other events are huge, including a totally revised Kuta Karnival (sorry but Kuta Cowboys on skateboards doesn’t do anything for me), creating SE Asia’s #1 festival / carnival (this hasn’t happened yet but should). The cultural park at GWK should be on the the world circuit for performers and actively promoted. Can you imagine the effect on Bali tourism of an MTV ‘Live in Bali’ series, featuring popular music acts, followed by footage of all Bali has to offer. I’d jump all over that if I was the Minister of Tourism. We’ve already got the cow, we just need to learn how to milk it.