Arena & Sun and Sand Sports SWIM CLINIC with Olympic and World champion Oussama Mellouli

Dec. 21, 2010 - PRLog -- Dubai, 20th December 2010 – Global sports waterwear leader, Arena, announced that Olympic and World 1500m freestyle champion Oussama Mellouli (26) conducted the company’s young swimmer’s  clinic immediately following the World Short Course Championships in Dubai (December 15-19).  The event was organised by Sun and Sand Sports & hosted by the city’s award-winning Al Wasl Sports Club on December 20th from 3-6pm. Sun and Sand Sports is the exclusive distributor for ARENA in the GCC

The clinic was focused on swimmers aged 7-14, and aimed to build on Dubai’s World Championship experience by inspiring aspirant young swimmers through the leadership of Tunisian Mellouli, the first-ever African male swimmer to win an Olympic gold medal in an individual event (Beijing 2008, 1500m freestyle).  Now based in Los Angeles, Melluoli’s swimming origins were humble and – like many youngsters – recreational, taking to a small pool in the town of Al Marsa, just north of Tunis.  It is precisely these modest beginnings that Arena hopes will be the inspiration for the youngsters of the area, giving them hope that – like Oussama – they too can create opportunities through swimming.  

At the world class facilities of the Al Wasl Sports Club – home of the UAE’s Football Club of the 20th Century – the clinic started with an account of Mellouli’s background, his first successes in the pool, the lessons he has learned from swimming, and the openings it has afforded him in his life.  He then put the
7-12 year olds through their paces from 3:30-4:30pm, followed by the 13 and 14 year olds from 4:30-5:30pm. The classes were followed by an autograph session with Oussama.

“We are proud to welcome World Champion Oussama Mellouli the athlete who made the entire Arab World proud with his world class achievements. This is an amazing opportunity to help Local swimmers to interact with a world champion swimmer and to learn from his experiences. This joint efforts with our Main Sportswear Sponsor Sun & Sand Sports is the way forward to foster the sport of Swimming in Dubai and private sector partnership” commented Zayed Abbas – Head of Single Sports, Al Wasl Sports Club.    

The Tunisian competed in the 200m, 400m, and 1500m freestyle events at Dubai’s World Championships, hoping to add to his impressive haul of medals at the world’s most prestigious swimming events.  Aside from being the reigning Olympic and World (LC) Champion at 1500m (freestyle), he won silver medals in the 800m and 400m freestyle events at the 2009 World Championships (LC) in Rome, has swept his events at the past two Mediterranean Games (2009, 2005), won bronze medals in 400m freestyle and 400m IM at the 2005 World Championships in Montreal, and won his first World Championship (SC) title as a teenager in 2004 at Indianapolis, in the 400m individual medley.

“I’d like to thank my sponsor, Arena, for giving me the opportunity to give something back to the sport that has given me so much,” said Mellouli. “Swimming is not only important as a life skill, it also teaches many valuable life lessons about persistence, dedication, and staying the course. And so being able to pass on my experience to these youngsters is a wonderful opportunity to try and inspire them to greater things.”

“We are very pleased that Oussama, as a member of Arena’s Elite Team, has agreed to conduct this important swimming clinic,” said Alessandro Carpignano, Arena’s General Manager of International Business. “Not only is he a world beater in the pool, his determination, work ethic, and down-to-earth character provide a shining example for the youngsters who are fortunate to come to his clinic.  As a business heavily involved in international swimming on a daily basis, we hope that this clinic gives something to the community at large, not merely in a pure swimming sense, but also through sharing the noble values that the sport has to offer.”

Marvin Shaire, CEO of Gulf Marketing Group commented, “Sun and Sand Sports has been distributing the Arena brand across the Middle East for over eleven years. We are excited to have Arena and their athletes in Dubai for the World Short Course Championships. The swim clinic reflects the strong relationship between Arena and Sun and Sand Sports giving the youth an invaluable opportunity to interact and learn from an elite athlete such as Oussama Mellouli.”

“This initiative from Arena and Sun and Sand Sports will inspire kids and help them realise their goals.
Sun and Sand Sports is committed to bringing the UAE community closer to their favourite athletes.
I would like to thank Al Wasl Sports Club for providing a fantastic state-of-the-art venue for the swim clinic, said Vishal Bhatia, Head of Marketing for Sun and Sand Sports.


Since 1973, Arena has created and marketed waterwear products for competitive swimmers and swimming fans worldwide, and is universally recognised as one of the premium brands of high quality swimwear and equipment. Over the last 37 years, the
Company has developed strong expertise in developing best in class products with particular focus on the Pool segment, while also gradually expanding into leisure and beach wear.

Arena has commercial subsidiaries in Italy, France and Germany, and also operates through a global network of distributors and licensees. The Arena brand is present in 103 countries worldwide, of which 92 are directly managed by the Arena Group (6 through commercial subsidiaries and 86 through distributors and licensees), while in the Far East (11 countries) the brand is owned and managed by the Descente Group.

The Company’s ties to the world of sport and swimming in particular are reinforced through sponsoring activities at different levels, including governing bodies, national federations, athletes and clubs.
About Sun and Sand Sports
Founded in Dubai in 1979, Sun and Sand Sports LLC is the largest multi-gender sports retailer and wholesaler in the Middle East with over 80 stores in 6 countries – UAE, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. For more information visit www.sunandsandsports.com

Media Contact
Vinay Changarangath
Marketing department
Email: vinay@sunandsandsports.com

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Founded in Dubai in 1979, Sun and Sand Sports LLC is the largest multi-gender sports retailer and wholesaler in the Middle East with over 80 stores in 6 countries – UAE, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.