KUWAIT CITY, May 6: Clear blue skies, the warming spring temperature coupled with the calm ocean currents were factors that favored the successful execution of the 23rd annual Raft Race at the Aqua Park in Sharq. The atmosphere at the event was carnival-like with topless men, women in bikinis, fully clad women as well as children and their parents enjoying the Navy-blue swimming pools as part of the annual event which has been a major internal tourist attraction in Kuwait for years.
There were noticeable changes in the color of the slides this year from blue to red. A new football facility spanning 7,500 square feet authorized by the International Football Federation (FIFA) was also one of the new additions to the Park this year. Another unique feature of the Aqua Park is the designation of Tuesdays as Female only visit days. Restaurants, snack joints and other eateries were all part of the mix to make the event the resounding success that it turned out to be.
Expressing his surprise at the size of the crowd this year, James Cole, an American national who was semi immersed in the swimming pool, said this was the fourth consecutive year he was attending the recreational event at the Aqua Park, but this year’s seems to be much more crowded than the previous years, adding that “I think the changes I see around may be one of the reasons for the increase in patronage, and with more people around, the event becomes livelier”.
Aqua Park became the venue of the Raft Race eight years ago when the original venue, Messila Beach Hotel, had to go under renovation and with the final departure of the British gentleman who started the event at the original venue, the move to the Aqua Park is set to be permanent.
Mohammed Khorshid, General Manager of Al Jazeera Entertainment Enterprises and Director of the Aqua Park said water in the pools is regularly checked by the Health Ministry to ensure its suitability for use. Given the success of Aqua Park as an internal tourist attraction, Khorshid suggested that it would have been better if the park were brought under the Commerce Ministry so it can be promoted as a source of revenue. Khurshid stated that plans are in the works to expand the Raft Race to include other water sports so as the make it attractive to all nations in the gulf. “It is all about fun you know”, added Khurshid.
The big part was the Raft Race in which a total of thirteen teams of men and welded mixed participated.
Al Sayer Toyota, Al Sayer Lexus, Asea Brown Boveri (ABB), Kuwait Agriculture, Sultan Center and Nasser Sports Center were the race teams participating in the men and welded mixed categories of the event with each team fielding ten energetic and well motivated members, hoping to do their teams proud.
Toyota won the Men’s category race, followed closely by ABB, but the ABB team believed they could have won the first spot had it not been for what they perceived as obstruction by the Toyota team; “I know we could have been first but for the fact that our raft was clearly obstructed”, said Mohammed Naeem, the ABB team Captain.
The first spot and coveted trophy was won by Toyota, as it has been since 1997. ABB came in second.
 According to Paul Reynolds, the CEO of Toyota, the only secret to the consistent excellent performance by Toyota through the years, has been well focused training, coupled with a positive attitude and determination to win, “That is the magic formula”, he added.
Trophies were presented to all participating teams at the event.