AFC chief calls award ‘ a surprise’
MOHAMMAD CREATIVE SPORTS AWARD HONOURS SPORTSPERSONS AND ORGANISATIONS
Pioneering Arab athletes, administrators and officials were honoured for their outstanding contribution to sport in the region at the 5th annual Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Creative Sports Award yesterday afternoon.
Among those conferred with the prestigious award at a glittering ceremony held at the Dubai World Trade Centre’s Shaikh Rashid Auditorium were Her Highness Shaikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, Chairperson of the General Women’s Union, Supreme Chairperson of the Family Development Foundation, who was bestowed with the ‘ Local Sports Figure’ of the Year Award, and Shaikh Salman Bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, President of the Asian Football Confederation ( AFC), who was selected as the ‘ Arab Sports Figure’.
In a written citation, Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Sports Council, commended the Award’s winners stating: “We congratulate you for gaining titles in this unique Award, which holds the name of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai.”
Shaikh Salman received the Arab Sports Figure award from Shaikh Ahmad Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation and President of the National Olympic Committee, and Shaikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development.
“This award is what all sports people dream about as it recognises their achievements and efforts that have helped raise the standard of sport, not just in the Arab world, but internationally as well,” Shaikh Salman said.
Busy period
“It was a surprise for me and I’m flattered but it also brings a responsibility to the job that has been done so far but it also provides you a boost to do better.
“I’ve been in this business for the last 15 years but it still feels good to get the recognition that the Award brings and I hope we can all live up to expectations in the coming months, which are very busy for Asia, with India hosting the Under- 17 World Cup, South Korea the Under- 19 World Cup and Jordan the Women’s Under- 17 World Cup.
“Asia is a huge continent and we have to look at the background of each country and see how we can support them. The future of Asian sport has never looked brighter.” Legendary Moroccan Olympic gold medallist Nawal Al Moutawakel, who is the first Arab woman to become the Vice- President of the IOC, was recognised for contributing to the enrichment of women Sports’ with the ‘ Arab Sports Figure’ award.
Among the leading UAE re- cipients were Arif Saif Al Zafeen and Mohammad Al Merri of Victory Team 3 who bagged the Local Team Award for winning the Class 1 Powerboating World Cup 12 times including six times in a row and golf in Dubai for promoting Dubai as one of the leading destinations and world leaders in golf.
“This is going to be a huge stepping stone as we’ve all worked very hard to make an impact throughout the year,” said Mohammad Juma Bu Amim, Vice- Chairman and CEO of golf in Dubai.
In all, 16 awards were presented based on the nominations of the Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Sports Creative Award Board of Trustees.
The Awards ceremony saw the number of candidates reach a new high of 226, while the participation of international federations exceeded 93 per cent, a strong indicator of the success of the award at a global level.