Chris Martin: Happy New Year, Abu Dhabi

– Coldplay puts on sizzling performance as band rings in the New Year in UAE Capital with over 25,000 revelers
– Abu Dhabi’s historic two-week hosting of the Volvo Ocean Race 2011/2012 gets off to a spectacular start
– Coldplay’s performance was supported by du Live!, the entertainment platform of du.

Abu Dhabi, UAE, 1 January, 2012: Coldplay’s highly anticipated return to the UAE Capital was met with a huge roar, as 25,115 fans packed the concert venue at the Abu Dhabi Corniche Breakwater to watch the Grammy Award-winning rock band ring in the New Year and kick-start the Emirate’s historic hosting of the Volvo Ocean Race.

“Happy New Year, Abu Dhabi,” front man Chris Martin shouted, shortly after leading the countdown to 2012.

Moments later, a spectacular firework display lit up the Abu Dhabi sky as a sellout crowd, and band members’ families, Volvo Ocean Race shore teams, media and fans, looked on in awe simply mesmerized by the incredible start to 2012.

Partygoers began to arrive at the venue early to ensure they grabbed the best spots in the house, and spent pre-concert time revving up to the turn-of-the-year festivities at the hospitality outlets in the nearby Volvo Ocean Race Destination Village.

Many thousands who braved wet conditions during Coldplay’s show two years ago returned with their friends.

Front man Chris Martin opened the show with a “Abu Dhabi are you there? And they certainly were, as the crowd went wild to Mylo Xyloto, Hurts Like Heaven, Yellow and In My Place.

The band brought the album’s psychedelic cover artwork to life with a bright-colored stage set and their usual high energy performance, all set against a unique backdrop of the Arabian Gulf and cityscape skyline of Abu Dhabi.

While their first visit to Abu Dhabi, in 2009 will be remembered for the down pour, which could not dampen the spirits of the vocal crowd, Coldplay’s 2011/2012 return will go down in Volvo Ocean Race history as the benchmark of stop-over opening celebrations.

Coldplay’s performance is just one of a number of major activities presented by Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority for the two week hosting of the Volvo Ocean Race fleet, its sea hardened sailors and more than 100,000 fans at the purpose built Destination Village on the Corniche Breakwater.

Open daily from 11am-11pm, with extended weekend hours, the free-to-the-public Destination Village is the focal point for a wealth of on and off water activities, entertainment, concerts, rides, sailing schools, games and competitions, as well as all the Volvo Ocean Race action, until the fleet leaves on the third race leg to Sanya, China on 14th January.

Shatha Al Romaithi, FLASH Entertainment spokesperson, said: “What a night this has been! Coldplay left us in awe in 2009 when they performed here for the first time, and tonight, this incredible band did it again. What a way to ring in the New Year!”

She added: “We are not only celebrating the arrival of 2012 but also a historic moment for Abu Dhabi, as it welcomes the Volvo Ocean Race.”
Hala Badri, Executive Vice President, Brand and Communications, du said: “Coldplay presented an unparalleled performance; the concert was a spectacular end to 2011, the perfect beginning to 2012, and just a taster for du Live! will bring to the UAE in the coming year”
She added, “We would like to wish our customers and concert-goers a wonderful year ahead of them, and we look forward to continuing to wow the country with the best entertainment acts in the months to come.”

After a series of promotional concerts in Europe last October, Coldplay embarked on their worldwide tour in December, 2011.
They returned this year with a new and exciting album, Mylo Xyloto, which debuted at number one in 30 countries and smashed the record for the highest number of download sales in one week.

The first hit off the album, Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall has been nominated for two Grammy Awards for Best Rock Song and Best Rock Performance. It was released as the lead single off the album and has had over 25 million hits on YouTube.

Coldplay’s performance ends a remarkable year in entertainment for the Capital. FLASH Entertainment worked around the clock in 2011 to bring some of the hottest acts from across the globe, from tiny-tot entertainers The Wiggles to the loudest rock band on the planet, Metallica. And who can forget the cache of artists and performers who arrived on our shores throughout the year? There was the iconic pop legend Janet Jackson, Britney Spears, Paul McCartney, Creamfields Abu Dhabi, Snoop Dogg, Shakira, Amr Diab, every music genre was covered in just 12 months in the Capital.

FLASH Entertainment is promising to be even bigger in 2012 with the Scissor Sisters kicking off another season of concerts at the FLASH Forum, Yas Island. Stay tuned to www.thinkflash.ae for 2012 concert announcements from FLASH

For Volvo Ocean Race event details and activities please visit www.volvooceanraceabudhabi.com

About VOR/New Years Eve Travel Packages
Tailored travel packages, being run by ‘Volvo Ocean Race Abu Dhabi Travel Services’ and developed in conjunction with the stopover’s travel partner, Hala Abu Dhabi, are centred on event highlights from the Destination Village opening this New Year’s Eve. These include;

New Year’s Eve Party @ Volvo Ocean Race Abu Dhabi Stopover: December 31, 2011
Arrival ceremony of Volvo Ocean Race yachts: January 1-2, 2012 (approx.)
Pro-Am Race: January 12, 2012
In-Port Race: January 13, 2012
Departure ceremony of Volvo Ocean Race yachts: January 14, 2012

A ‘New Year’s Eve Spectacular’ package includes four-nights’ accommodation with breakfast, airport meet & greet and premium limousine transport as well as transfers to the Volvo Ocean Race Destination Village for ‘Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority presents COLDPLAY, performing Live at the Volvo Ocean Race, brought to you by FLASH Entertainment’, with pre and post concert VIP hospitality, as well as a stunning sunset dhow cruise.

About VOR Abu Dhabi Stopover Campaign
ADTA’s Volvo Ocean Race campaign also features a team in the event – known as the F1™ of racing. ADTA is fielding Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing, skippered by double Olympic medalist Ian Walker of Great Britain.

Abu Dhabi’s ‘Destination Village,’ which is next to the city’s Heritage Village and overlooks Abu Dhabi’s impressive city skyline, will open free-of-charge to the public daily from 31st December.

The highly interactive village, which will leverage the maritime theme, will be packed with activities and entertainment including exhibitions, shows, simulators, hospitality, game zones, restaurants and cafes and shops.

In addition to daily, free on-shore activities, a full sailing and watersports programme will run throughout the fortnight for kids and adults. Volvo Ocean Race will also run classrooms and practical workshops to teach sailing to all ages, whilst a number of local racing regattas will be held for sailing aficionados and newcomers.

In addition, the six competing Volvo Ocean Race teams – including the UAE’s Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing, sailing its state-of-the-art Volvo Open 70 race yacht, Azzam (determination) – will also compete in front of packed crowds for points in a pro-am and in-port race, before heading off on the 4,500 mile third race leg to Sanya, China on the 14th January 2012.

For more information on the Abu Dhabi stopover, please visit www.volvooceanraceabudhabi.com
Also, stay up-to-date with all Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing news, exclusive competitions and content via
Facebook (www.facebook.com/abudhabioceanracing);
YouTube (www.youtube.com/abudhabioceanracing) and
Twitter (www.twitter.com/adorlog)

About the Race Arena
The Race Arena is a custom designed concert space built adjacent to Abu Dhabi’s purpose-built Corniche Destination Village, which opens free to all until 14th January 2011. The Arena itself is accessible by road from Abu Dhabi Corniche heading towards Marina Mall. There will be parking for an estimated 6,000 cars on the night of the concert, and a public transportation system (iMan) will shortly to be made available for large groups travelling from Dubai and the Northern Emirates. Further details on the Race Arena, including maps, directions, venue plans and opening times will be announced in the coming weeks.

About the Volvo Ocean Race
The Volvo Ocean Race traces its origins back to 1973 and is the world’s premier offshore sailing race.  The Volvo Open 70 racing boat is sailed by professional athletes, who race around the world with the prevailing winds.
For media information on the Volvo Ocean Race, please visit http://press.volvooceanrace.org

The Volvo Ocean Race
– The next Volvo Ocean Race started in the Spanish port of Alicante on October 29 of 2011 and finishes in Galway, Ireland during the summer of 2012
– The first 31,250 nautical-mile race first took place over 37 years ago (as the Whitbread Round the World Race 1973-74), testing the crews against some of the most ferocious elements that man can encounter
– The 2011-12 race is the 11th edition of the event
– This is the first time the Middle East has formed part of the route for the Volvo Ocean Race
– Lying on the Arabian Gulf, Abu Dhabi has a rich maritime tradition as a trading port. Throughout its history, the iconic dhow has plied the trade routes between the city and its neighboring countries

About ADTA
Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) has wide ranging responsibilities for managing and assisting the development of the emirate’s tourism industry and the marketing and promotion of the emirate as a world-class destination of distinction. Its responsibilities include; destination marketing; infrastructure and product development and regulation and classification. A key role is to create synergy in the international promotion of Abu Dhabi through close co-ordination with the emirate’s hotels, destination management companies, airlines and other public and private sector travel-related organisations.

About FLASH Entertainment
Based in Abu Dhabi, FLASH Entertainment is the regions premier live events company, with a proven track record in delivering fantastic events and experiences for people of Abu Dhabi, of any age, culture or nationality.

From movie premieres, classical shows, international tennis tournaments and megastar music concerts through to creating local community events, supporting local talent, and providing interactive experiences and edu-tainment, FLASH is committed to providing unique entertainment experiences.

FLASH has successfully delivered some of the biggest and most memorable live events in Abu Dhabi’s history. From ground breaking pop stars to world film premieres, FLASH has already left an unforgettable mark on the city, and in the process entertained over 1.5million people.