Abu Dhabi: A total of 94 sports stars who raised the UAE flag aloft at regional and international championships in 2013 were recognised at a grand ceremony at the National Theatre in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.
Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, honoured Shaikha Jawaher Bint Mohammad Al Qasimi, wife of His Highness Dr Shaikh Sultan Bin Mohammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, winner of the ‘Sport Personality of the Year’ for her leading, constructive and active role in serving and advancing sport, especially women’s sport.
Abdul Rahman Bin Mohammad Al Owais, Minister of Health and First Deputy Chairman of the National Olympic Committee, was also honoured for his outstanding contributions to sport.
The glittering event was organised by the General Authority Youth and Sports Welfare and was attended by Shaikh Ahmad Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the National Olympic Committee; Shaikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development and Chairman of the General Authority for Youth and Sports Welfare; Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, and a number of other Shaikhs, ministers, senior officials and chairmen of sports associations.
Speaking after the screening of a documentary on the UAE’s sporting achievements of 2013, Shaikh Nahyan paid gratitude to President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, for their consistent support for sport and sportsmen.
He also thanked General Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and Shaikh Mansour, for their support and encouragement to the UAE sports movement.
He congratulated the sports champions, who won the President’s sports grant. “Success of the sports sector in the state needs a full-fledged partnership of all stakeholders,” Shaikh Nahyan said.
