LAMIA FLIES UAE FLAG HIGH

Malak Al Farsi, mother of sixyear-old Lamia Tariq Malallah Al Farsi, UAE’s wonder girl in Rhythmics Gymnastics

We come from a lineage of military and police personnel so our patriotism towards the country is quite evident and National Day brings in a heightened sense of pride and love for our country. Our children Lamia and Leanne love dressing up in their flag colours in traditional jalabiyas and watch the parade and fireworks and actively participate in school festivities. Lamia has also been learning to play the national anthem on the piano as she wanted to play it on National Day, but unfortunately we are not in the country.

Though this year we will miss the celebrations in the UAE as we are in Leverkusen, Germany since Lamia will be competing at the Winter Cup, our huge flag will be with us and we will proudly showcase it to the world at the competition and hopefully Lamia does well on National Day to make her country proud on the global stage.

We will be miles away on that day but our hearts will be here in the UAE as this is our homeland, the land which our great Rulers have made safe, secure and happy for over nine million people from different parts of the world, and where there is equal opportunity for both men and women. We truly believe in the motto, ‘dont ask what the country can do for you, but instead ask yourself what have you done for the country’?

This is exactly what our daughter Lamia has been trying to achieve over the past year and a half by representing her country in sports and making her country proud every time she competes.

Lamia’s main aim is to train and work hard so that she can make her country and Rulers proud of her achievements. She would like to follow the principles of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. Sheikh Mohammed only wants us to be No. 1 in everything we do and this is always in her mind.