The International Offshore Team Association
(IOTA) has reached an agreement with
the Qatar Marine Sports Federation (QMSF)
to launch “Class 1 for Dhreima” – an
initiative to support the Qatar Orphan
Foundation.
Sheikh Hassan Bin Jabor Al-Thani, President
of the QMSF and IOTA, was instrumental
in encouraging Class 1 – a sport in
which he has been a leading figure since
2003 – to become an active vehicle to
raise awareness of the foundation. “In
presenting this initiative I wanted
to emphasise how sport, in whatever
form or however extreme, can support
the values and the importance of the
activities of an organisation such as
the Qatar Orphan Foundation.”
The association between Class 1 and
Dhreima will be developed over a series
of activities that will take place at
races during the course of the 2008
season, with the purpose of highlighting
the activities of Dhreima and finding
synergy with similar organisations based
in countries that host Class 1 GP events.
The Qatar Orphan Foundation - Dhreima
was launched on 10, June 2003 under
the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha
Moza Bint Nasser Al-Misnad, Chairman
of the Supreme Council. “We in the Qatari
Orphan Foundation believe that our community
values of solidarity, compassion and
cooperation make us truly capable of
providing all the support the children
need,” said Nabil Ali Bin Ali, Chairman
of the Dhreima Board, adding. “And we
are extremely happy that the Class 1
Championship has elected to support
the Foundation.”
Twenty wide-eyed VIP youngsters from
the Children’s Home in Bijela in Montenegro
were given a day to remember, spending
the afternoon with Class 1 and meeting
Sheikh Hassan bin Jabor Al-Thani on
Friday, 23 May at the Montenegrin Grand
Prix in Budva.
The children watched the afternoon practice
session and were treated to a slap-up
‘tea-party’ before having their pictures
taken with Sheikh Hassan and the pilots
– their favourite was clearly Nicola
Giorgi – and then joining the teams
for the Class 1 Boat Parade.
The visit was arranged by the event
organisers and IOTA as part of their
new initiative, ‘Class 1 for Dhreima’,
in support of the Qatar Orphan Foundation
and was the first of a series of activities
that will take place at races during
the course of the season to highlight
the activities of Dhreima and similar
organisations based in countries that
host Class 1 GP events.
MOSCOW
SHEIKH HASSAN DROPS IN ON CHILDREN’S
TEA PARTY
As part of the Championship’s new initiative
– Class 1 for Dhreima – in support of
the Qatar Orphan Foundation, and in
association with Good Deed, a Charitable
Foundation working with low-income Russian
Citizens, a very excited group of underprivileged
children from a Moscow orphanage enjoyed
a memorable afternoon with Class 1 at
the Russian Grand Prix in Moscow.
Sheikh Hassan bin Jabor Al-Thani was
the surprise guest who dropped in on
their tea-party in the Class 1 VIP hospitality,
and afterwards the children were shown
around the pits to look at the race
boats, meet the pilots and received
a host of goodies from Qatar Team members,
Matteo Nicolini and Steve Curtis.
ARENDAL
CLASS 1 PILOTS AND SKI LEGENDS BRIGHTEN
UP KIDS DAY
Norwegian World and Olympic Champions,
Kjetil Andre Aarmodt and Aksel Lund
Svindal, brightened up the day for a
group of youngsters at the BMW Norwegian
Grand Prix, who braved the overcast
and stormy conditions to watch the Class
1 Ski jumping competition.
After having tea with Class 1 pilots,
Domenico Cirilli and Nicola Giorgi,
the children watched with great excitement
as Norway’s skiing legends entertained
the crowds on the makeshift ski slopes.
CONSTANTA
A DAY TO REMEMBER FOR ALL
Children from a local orphanage will
remember the day that they spent at
the Romanian Grand Prix in Mamaia-Constanta,
for a very long time.
Class 1 treated the group of youngsters
to a wonderful day packed full of activities,
meeting Sheikh Hassan and the pilots,
riding in the boat parade, taking a
tour of the pits and getting their hands
on the rather unique Class 1 for Dhriema
‘lilo’.
And in a special event to raise funds
for the childrens home, a host of celebrities
including the Mayor of Constanta City,
Radu Stefan Mazare and TV personality,
Mihaela Radulescu, Ambasador of the
charity organisation, United Way Romania
competed in the first-ever Class 1 Nor-Tech
Match Race.
