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More than 200 students from 24 countries, including the UAE, who are taking part in the finals of a global competition being held in Abu Dhabi city today came today to tour one of the world’s most universal and inclusive landmarks – the magnificent Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque which is the statement edifice to the capital of the United Arab Emirates.
“There could not be a better place for youngsters of so many different nationalities to come together as one as this,” said Andrew Denford, Founder and Chairman of F1 in Schools. “This tour represented the spirit of cross-cultural understanding which our own F1 in Schools competition demonstrates.
“Bringing together over 200 students, this global event is an incredible opportunity for them. Not only can it be a stepping stone to a university career for the World Champions, all the participants gain tremendous life skills, with the diversity of cultures and religions of their peers giving each one of them insight into other students’ lives.”
The tour came ahead of the F1 in Schools World Finals – a global competition to design and race a scale model replica of a Formula One car over a set course in the fastest time and ahead of next week’s Formula 1® Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix – the emirate’s annual headline event.
The teams were shown around Abu Dhabi’s most visited landmark, which can house 41,000 worshippers and earlier this year was voted second in the World’s Top 25 landmarks in Tripadvisor’s Travellers’ Choice Awards, ahead of four days of intense competition at Yas Island’s Ferrari World Abu Dhabi during which they battle to lift the coveted Bernie Ecclestone World Champions Trophy.
The competition runs alongside the 2014 Formula 1® Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, which takes place at Yas Marina Circuit from 21st-23rd November.
The students, who have fought off thousands of competitors to win their national heats, create their own Formula One teams and then design, construct and race scale models of cars powered by compressed air along a 20-metre track.
The competition is celebrating its 10th edition and is being hosted by Abu Dhabi for the second time.
The winning team will be offered university scholarships to City University London in the UK.
Savannah Wedgewood, 16, from Crocus Plains Regional Secondary School in Canada said: “It’s the most beautiful building I have ever seen. The chandeliers were amazing and all the artwork was beautiful. It’s breathtaking. Three words sum it up - timeless, gorgeous, beautiful. I would love to come back to Abu Dhabi to show my friends and family how warm and friendly this place is.”
The current record for the race is held by Team FUGA from Northern Ireland who completed the distance in 1.020 seconds in 2007.
Viran Weerasekera, 17, from Magdalene High School in Australia, said: “It was really interesting to see all the intricate scenery, and the way the marble and tiles interacted with one another. It was really fantastic to experience and to see how much work had gone into it and how beautiful the final product was. I’d really like to come back to Abu Dhabi because it looks like a really interesting place. It’s a good chance to see another culture.”
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