Beiruting News

The 7th edition of the Lebanon Water Festival 2018 is launching on Saturday 18 August 2018 with the International Sailing Regatta at the ATCL in Kaslik. The Jordanian and Lebanese teams will compete for two days on board lasers, picos, and optimists.

The Lebanon Water Festival is not only an Non Governmental Organization organizing water sporting events, it is also actively involved with finding sustainable environment solutions. Given the unexpected meteorological conditions in Lebanon since the end of uneJ -­‐ strong currents, waves and winds -­‐ the 2018 event calendar has been adjusted. This year's edition kicks off with the International Sailing Regatta, is followed by the Stand Up Paddle Nation Cup taking place for the first time at Le Colonel in Batroun. The Underwater Photography Contest is held once again in Tyr, and the Freediving Cup location will be determined at the return of calm waters. The Lebanon Water Festival introduces the Arab Sport Fishing Championship, a new discipline, and closes the season with the Surf Contest in October.

The Lebanon Water Festival gathers all water sports lovers in and outside Lebanon. Since its foundation in 2012, the festival has risen interest and significantly grown in top of mind awareness. The Lebanon Water Festival has created a community, uniting people who care about the environment, the sea and share sportsmanship values. In 2017, the festival attracted more than 300 participants in total, crosscutting all sporting categories and age groups. 20,000 people from over 16 countries were in attendance to take part in the contests, communicate their heartfelt encouragements, to cheer and give standing ovations to the participants, whilst simultaneously enjoying the beach, food, and summer vibes all along the coast. As we look back on the past six years, Lebanon Water Festival has been a true catalyst in many ways, such as creating interest in new beach locations, triggering the development of beach infrastructures and beach resorts, motivating the foundation of new sports schools, and the growth of sport tourism in the country.

Lebanon Water Festival 2018 | 7^th edition launch

Lebanon Water Festival works on finding undiscovered and unexploited areas to then match the location with the adequate sport. Through different events, the festival has structured the Lebanese coastal line and provided a sport identity for each municipality, allowing Lebanese and tourist to easily access the ideal place for their chosen sport.

Developing Infrastructures

As Lebanon's economy has greatly benefited from an expanding interest in water sports and competitions, new infrastructures of all sorts, including schools, shops, tourism centers, and beaches open all over the coast.

As the season kicks-­‐off, courses are available for all water sport, giving the chance to those who would like to try out a new sport to learn and even enter the contest at an amateur or pro level. These infrastructures have created a sense of belonging, care for the environment, and respect of international regulations.

Implementing International Regulations

Water sport is extremely regulated for safety purposes worldwide.The Lebanon Water Festival advocates for better respect of international sport regulations and security measures and implementation for all

Lebanon Water Festival 2018 | 7^th edition launch

events. By adhering to the international rules, it allows the participants to later takepart in federation events and access worldwide tournaments. Thanks to these efforts, Lebanon has discovered several national talents.

Advocate Environmental Protection

One of the key roles of Lebanon Water Festival is to trigger awareness among the public and municipalities, regarding the problems concerning the pollution of our beaches and our sea. A number of municipalities now work on renovations and remodeling their shore. Municipalities are committing to protect the underwater species and shoreline, declaring National Parks, stopping dynamite fishing, spear fishing, and jet skis, as well as actively working on securing the Turtle beach reserve to protect their development.

Social Impact

The Lebanon Water Festival is about bringing people together and creating a community for water sport lovers regardless of the region. The festival is crosscutting to all water sport, and runs along the coast from North to South, bringing everyone together under the sun for leisure sport.

The Mediterranean Sea allows one to practice water sports all year around, a richness Lebanon should exploit. Lebanon Water Festival 7^th edition will continue working with communities, municipalities and regions to shape the water community nationally and internationally looking towards a cleaner more united tomorrow.