Fuerteventura to Attract Sports Tourism

The island of Fuerteventura is aiming to attract elite sports tourism. A private initiative has taken the first steps by building an Olympic pool at the Playitas Grand Resort as reported in our last newsletter.

The new pool, opened last Thursday by Mario Cabrera, President of Fuerteventura government has been approved by the German team that will participate in the Olympic Games will also be used by English, Irish and Scandinavian teams in their preparation for Beijing. The pool is 50 meters long, and has eight lanes, an underground gallery for observing swimming technique and seats for about 300 people it is open daily for the public.
The government of the Canary Islands has also published new regulations allowing for the introduction of up to seven new racetrack gambling facilities at the islands’ popular tourist resorts including Fuerteventura.

Worldcup Watersports Fuerteventura

With the wind in their sails. The world’s 350 top windsurfers and kiteboarders are coming to Fuerteventura for the 23rd Windsurfing & Kiteboarding World Cup.

When Fuerteventura calls, they all come. The island, situated in the Canaries, has got the wind the windsurfers and kiteboarders need, plus there’s the bonus of white sandy beaches, blue skies and summer-like temperatures.René Egli, initiator and organiser of the World Cup says, “I’m very pleased that, with the Windsurfing & Kiteboarding World Cup, we are able to offer not just an annual sporting highlight, but also an event of increasing interest to spectators and the media. The interest in windsurfing and kiteboarding as a spectacular, clean sport, in tune with nature, is greater every year.”And from 18th July to 2nd August 2008 on Fuerteventura, windsurfers and kiteboarders will try to measure up in 5 different events with world championship status. As ever on Fuerteventura, the spectators are right up close to the action. They can make direct contact with the riders. There is also plenty to keep body and soul together and a wide-ranging program of related events. Spectators can chill on the beach with drinks and music in a 1,000 m² lounge area whilst watching the ongoing competitions. In the evenings, thousands of tourists, locals and, for the prize-giving ceremonies, riders will mingle at the legendary World Cup parties in the 2,000 m² party marquee.