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Dubai, 10 April 2008: Volkswagen Middle East and Wattayah Motors LLC, its official partner in Oman, will be supporting the longest torch relay in the history of the Olympic Games during the Middle East leg which will take place in Oman on 14 April 2008. Volkswagen Middle East and Wattayah Motors LLC will be providing 18 vehicles to accompany the torch-bearers through the streets of Muscat out of which three Olympic branded Touaregs will be used for the core convoy, while the remainder of the feet will serve as administration and support cars.
Sohraab Hasnain, Brand Manager for Wattayah Motors LLC commented, “It is an honor for Wattayah Motors LLC, partners of Volkswagen Middle East in Oman, to have been chosen as the official automobile suppliers of the Olympic Torch Relay in Muscat. Vehicles are an essential part of the torch relay which is necessary to make this great event happen. We are very proud to be participating and supporting the longest torch relay ever recorded in the history of the Olympic Games and we intend on doing everything we can to make the Oman leg a successful and historic event.”
The Oman Olympic Committee (OOC) have announced that 80 torch-bearers will be participating in the relay which includes Omani sports stars and a celebrity torch-bearer from India, Mr. Ravi Shastri, the former Indian Cricket Captain who was selected by the Sultanate’s Olympic body. His Highness Sayyid Shihab bin Tareq al Said, Advisor to His Majesty the Sultan, will be the first torch-bearer and will receive the torch from chief guest Sayyid Al Mutassim bin Hamoud al Busaidy, the Minister of State and Governor of Muscat. The other prominent local torch-bearers include top officials of all sports associations and committees, ministries, Royal Oman Police, army representatives, Sultan Qaboos University, business establishments and sponsors.
The Beijing 2008 Olympic Torch Relay kicked off in Olympia on March 24 and will last 97 days in total covering more than 40,000 kilometers. The flame will reach Sanya in the South of China on May 4 and will arrive in Beijing on August 8. As exclusive automobile partner, the Volkswagen Group will be supporting the Organisation Committee in China with a fleet of about 6,000 vehicles consisting of 4,350 Volkswagens, 650 Skodas and 1,000 Audi-brand cars. |
