Dubai: The UAE School Olympics have received a boost with the Commercial Bank of Dubai (CBD) agreeing to a three-year contract to support the grass-roots initiative of the UAE National Olympic Committee (UAE NOC).
Now in its third year, the UAE School Olympics target sporting talent in Olympic disciplines from across the UAE.
During the second edition last year, the UAE School Olympic Games were conducted in five sporting disciplines — archery, athletics, fencing, swimming and shooting. This year will witness the addition of three more disciplines, namely jiu-jitsu, judo and taekwondo.
The UAE NOC has set up designated 200 training centres under its School Olympic Project. These centres are currently hosting and training nearly 3,500 students from across the country so that the athletes will deliver their best performances when the finals are held in May.
CBD joins other sponsors including Procter and Gamble (P&G) and Omega in supporting this grass-roots initiative of the UAE finding its next range of Olympic champions.
Abdul Rahman Al Owais, Vice President and Chairman, Executive Office, UAE NOC; Lieutenant General Mohammad Hilal Al Kaabi, Second Vice President, UAE NOC; Ebrahim Abdul Malik, General Secretary, General Authority for Youth and Sports Welfare (GAYSW); Abdullah Saif Al Hathboor, Board Member, CBD; Peter Baltussen, Chief Executive Officer, CBD and Amer Mohammad Makki, Head of Social Responsibility, CBD were among those present at the formal signing of the agreement.
Shaima Al Zarooni, Vice Chairwoman, Marketing and Financial Resources Committee, UAE NOC signed the contract with Frans Jan Burkens, Deputy General Manager, Personal Banking Group, CBD.
“The project has succeeded in reaching out to various segments of our community while also involving the parents of the students involved. Everyone is now viewing this initiative of the UAE School Olympic Games as vital in bringing forward genuine talented youngsters who will one day represent our country at international compeititons and the Olympic Games,” Al Owais told Gulf News.
“These youngsters are the true wealth of our nation and hopefully at least some of them will be able to dream along with us and achieve the sporting aspirations of the UAE,” he added.
“The bank’s experience in sponsoring diverse sports events is an indicator of its effective participation in supporting national programmes and initiatives that are aimed at serving the national interest. This prompts all community members to work as a team to realise our ultimate goal,” Makki noted.
