Dubai: The theme of the UAE National Sports Day, ‘UAE Unites Us’, was upheld as people from different nationalities and backgrounds turned up in their thousands all across the country on Wednesday to make the first edition of the event a resounding success.

There were events all over the UAE with Abu Dhabi hosting more than 100 across the emirate, followed by Dubai with more than 75 sporting events, while Sharjah chipped in with 30 events.

Ajman hosted 53 different events, Umm Al Quwain 30, Fujairah 35 and Ras Al Khaimah 71.

The event’s Dubai edition got under way with a flag-hoisting by Shaikh Mansour Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of the Dubai International Marine Club (DIMC), at midnight on Tuesday.

Shaikh Ahmad Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of the UAE National Olympic Committee (UAE NOC) and Chairman of the Higher Organising Committee for the UAE National Sports Day, also visited the DIMC and toured the site.

World record-holder Vittorio Brumotti went up the steps of Burj Al Arab on a bicycle to set the tone. The Italian accomplished the feat in 50 minutes and then vouched to send in his entry for another world record attempt for being the fastest to climb 1,200 steps on a simple road cycle.

In the morning session, the DIMC complex, which has been turned into the headquarters for the UAE National Sports Day, welcomed more than 4,000 children from various schools from all over Dubai. The kids were introduced to various sporting activities on-site after which they participated in a parade holding banners displaying the over-riding theme ‘UAE Unites Us’.

“We are overwhelmed with the response from people from across the country for this event. This is what the UAE stands for,” Saeed Hareb, general secretary of the Dubai Sports Council (DSC), told Gulf News. “We have more than 200 various nationalities assembling in one spirit and mind to show the world the true sense of unity in diversity.”

The idea of a UAE National Sports Day was officially announced by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, earlier this summer in an attempt to bring various communities together under the common banner of sport.

Mohammad Bin Sulayem, a 14-time FIA Middle East Rallying champion and one of UAE’s sports icons, took time off from the F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix to be part of the festivities and said the day is one of the best things to have happened in the modern history of the UAE.

“This day shows that we can’t deny sport. Today, sport is a part of our culture and living and we cannot ignore sport,” Bin Sulayem said. “Sport has always played a very important role in giving the UAE a standing on the world stage. Our leaders realised this and today we have a dedicated day that brings us all together under a common banner.”

Omar Abdul Rahman, a senior official with the UAE NOC, was pleased at the unifying aspect of the day.

“We have been going around the other venues and we have noticed that all people have been speaking the common language of sport,” Rahman said.

Shaikh Abdullah Al Sharqi, vice-president of the Emirates Body Building Federation (EBBF) and Asian Body Building Federation (ABBF), hailed the UAE National Sports Day as a one-of-a-kind event.

“In the UAE, we are used to doing something unique all the time. This event will go a long way in not only bringing all people together, with sports as the focal point, but also fostering values within our societies irrespective of culture, religion or nationality. Everyone will think UAE,” Shaikh Abdullah said.

There was a lot of buzz in schools with events hosted across the emirate’s schools to mark the day. Dr Abdullah Al Karam, chairman of the board of directors and director-general of the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), said: “Being healthy and fit is an important part of the schooling experience. Students usually enjoy their physical activities at school and we encourage schools to support them in their well-being and fitness.”

KHDA employees started the day with a 3km sunrise desert run at 6am, setting the stage for schools to follow with their own activities. The sporting activities focused on promoting fitness among school students with exercise sessions, football matches and other events.