Commemorative stamp issued ahead of AD triathlon

ABU DHABI // Excitement for the Abu Dhabi International Triathlon is rising.

The commemorative postage stamps have been printed, stars of The Bold and the Beautiful soap opera have arrived in town and a heart transplant-survivor is about to realise a dream.

The triathlon will be held for the fifth time on Saturday, with 2,400 athletes from 68 countries competing. The athletes will first swim along Abu Dhabi’s blue flag-rated beach, then run along the Corniche before cycling around Yas Marina Circuit.

The Bold and the Beautiful star, Katherine Kelly Lang, said she was looking forward to the event. Lang had asked for leave to take part, and the show decided to accompany her.

“It sounded very exotic and I’ve always wanted to go to Abu Dhabi and Dubai ever since I was in the Middle East a long time ago, so it was ... perfect timing.”

Wouter Duinisveld, one of the triathlon’s Inspire Competition winners this year, is determined to put in a strong performance – despite having had four heart attacks and a heart transplant.

“It took me two years to mentally and physically recover, but two and half years later I was at the finish line of my first sprint triathlon,” he said.

“The Abu Dhabi International Triathlon has been top of my to-do list for several years and it would be the perfect event to kick-start my triathlon season.”

Mr Duinisveld, from the Netherlands, and other Inspire winners, received return economy flights, four nights at the Khalidiya Palace Rayhaan and free entry to the triathlon.

The postal authority has produced Dh3 commemorative postage stamps to represent each leg of the triathlon.

Fahad Al Hosani, acting president of Emirates Post Group, said the triathlon was empowering the UAE’s position on the global sporting map. “We believe in the principle of having a healthy mind in a healthy body,” he said.

Visit www.abudhabitriathlon.com for more information.

halbustani@thenational.ae