Abu Dhabi, March 24: On Sunday a delegation from the ‘Million’s Poet’ program, headed by Sultan Al Amimi, Director of the Poetry Academy, collected the ‘Poetry Standard’ from the 2008-2009 winner of the contest, Saudi Arabia’s Ziad bin Nahit. This was in preparation for handing the ‘Standard’ to the next winner of the 2009-2010 competition.
The annual transfer of the ‘Standard’ from one winner to the next is a custom of this competition, which is organised by the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH).
The final episode of the fourth season of the ‘Million’s Poet’ will be broadcast live on Abu Dhabi TV on Wednesday, March 31, 2010. It will be held at the Al Raha Beach Theatre in Abu Dhabi.
In a special ceremony, bin Nahit delivered the ‘Poetry Standard’ award back via a glider which flew from Saudi Arabia and landed on the coast of Abu Dhabi.
In accordance with the rules of the competition, a winner can only keep the ‘Standard’ forever if he/she wins three times consecutively. Otherwise the ‘Standard’ rotates annually to each new winner.
This season’s competition has witnessed unprecedented media interest, amid speculations about whether bin Nahit will take part in the final episode in order to defend his title.
According to the rules of the competition, the previous winner has the right to participate in the final round to defend his title. Alternatively he/she can choose not to take part at all, depending on their wishes.
The competition boasts the largest prizes for poetry of its kind in the world, and aims to celebrate and support Nabati poets.
The total amount given to the top five winners is fifteen million UAE dirhams: the winner of the title receives five million; the second place prize is four million; third place is awarded three million;, fourth place wins two million and fifth place wins one million.
—Agencies