Football matches at Gulf Youth Games postponed due to inclement weather
The technical commitee for the 3×3 basketball has completed preparations for the launch of the competition
The first-ever Gulf Youth Games hosted by UAE began on Tuesday under the theme “Our Gulf is One... Our Youth is Promising’’ with a plethora of thrilling competitions set to captivate sports enthusiasts until May 2.
Taekwondo competitions at Fujairah’s Zayed Sports Complex hall marked the kick of the Gulf Youth Games UAE 2024. The martial arts athletes demonstrated their skill and precision, aiming to emerge victorious in this test of strength and agility.
In light of heavy rains resulting inclement weather conditions across the UAE and with the paramount concern for the safety of all participants, the Organizing Commitee of the First Gulf Youth Games UAE 2024 has made the decision to postpone Tuesday’s football matches scheduled to take place in Abu Dhabi.
This includes the matches between the UAE national team and Omani, as well as the Bahrain versus Kuwaiti. A new date for these matches will be determined and announced in due course.
Furthermore, the presentation ceremony for the winners of the taekwondo competitions of the opening, originally planned for Tuesday in Fujairah, has also been postponed. The ceremony will now take place on Wednesday.
Competitions in three sports disciplines will take place on Wednesday including sailing which is scheduled to end on April 21 at the Abu Dhabi Marine Sports Club breakwater.
The young talent, aged between 11 and 18, will navigate the waves in the Optimist, Alka 4, and Alka 6 boat categories, competing in 12 races that promise to showcase their prowess and determination.
Simultaneously, the Dubai Police Officers Club becomes the epicenter of athletic prowess as track and field competitions unfold. From Wednesday to April 19, athletes will push their limits, striving for glory and embodying the spirit of sportsmanship. Notably, alongside these events, Paralympic athletics competitions will also take place, emphasizing inclusivity and celebrating the indomitable spirit of people for determination.
The UAE Badminton Federation has announced the readiness of 24 talented male and female players poised to compete in the inaugural Gulf Youth Games 2024. The badminton competitions are scheduled to commence from April 19 to 22 at the Zayed Sports Complex hall in Fujairah.
Noura Hassan Al Jasmi, President of the Emirates Badminton Federation and a member of the National Olympic Commitee’s Board of Directors, has affirmed the team’s readiness for this significant sporting event in the Arab region. She highlighted that the players, both male and female, have honed their skills through an internal camp and rigorous training sessions at the Extra and Pioneer badminton academies in Sharjah.
Al Jasmi expressed her optimism for the Emirati players to achieve outstanding results, aiming for gold medals in the tournament’s debut on home turf. She emphasized the importance of the enthusiastic support from the public, which is expected to rally behind the Emirati teams across various games, further motivating the athletes.
The technical commitee for the 3×3 basketball competitions in the first Gulf Youth Games UAE 2024 has completed preparations for the launch of the competition on April 27 and 28 at the Al-thiqa Club hall for the disabled in the Emirate of Sharjah.
Hamdan Saeed Al Zaabi, member of the Board of Directors of the UAE Basketball Federation and Chairman of the 3×3 Commitee, expressed his optimism over the success of the first edition.
He pointed out that holding competition between boys and girls at this age stage is a “wonderful” idea, and said: “We thank the National Olympic Commitee for hosting the tournament, as well as for the idea itself, and that when we were informed of holding a competition for this game, The UAE Basketball Federation is taking all measures that would provide an organizational level commensurate with our capabilities in this field.”
He added: “The number of teams participating in basketball competitions has reached five countries including UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, and the Oman, while the Bahraini team expressed their unavailability and apologized. At the girls’ level, the UAE will participate with two teams (A) and (B).”