Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai & UAE Minister of Finance and Prince Ali Bin Al Hussain of Jordan were announced as the winners in the UAE and Arab categories at the 8th Edition of the Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Creative Sports Award that were announced late on Monday.
Sheikh Hamdan was bestowed with the ‘UAE Sports Personality’ award for his service in the upliftment and encouragement of various sports in the UAE and abroad. In addition to being the President of Al Nasr Club, Shaikh Hamdan supports Hatta Club that bagged a promotion into Division One of the Arabian Gulf League (AGL) this season.
"In addition, Sheikh Hamdan is a willing supporter of special needs sports and various sailing and maritime activities that seek to preserve the heritage and culture of the UAE," Mattar Al Tayer, Vice Chairman, Dubai Sports Council (DSC) and Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Award, told media at the announcement.
"Sheikh Hamdan is also considered one of the symbols in equestrian, horse racing and camel racing. Moreover, Sheikh Hamdan has some of the best horses and breeds, and a proven track record in terms of victories in some of the biggest thoroughbred and Arabian horse races around the globe," Al Tayer added.
Prince Ali, former Vice President of FIFA, was chosen for his vision in seeking to weed out corruption in International Football, though unsuccessfully contesting for the post of president of the world governing body earlier this year. More recently, Jordan successfully organized the FIFA Under-17 Girls World Cup.
UAE cyclist Yousuf Mirza was bestowed with the ‘UAE Outstanding Athlete of the Year Award’ for his silver medal at the Asian Cycling Championships, while becoming the first local cyclist to qualify directly to the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
During the course of a glittering career, Mirza has won nine gold medals at the Arab Cycling Championships, while also emerging as the key competitor in the UAE’s dominance at the Gulf Cycling Championships during the course of the season.
The UAE Organisation Award went to the UAE Paralympic Committee for overseeing a preparation programme for its athletes that led to the UAE winning a record seven medals in three different sports at the Rio Paralympic Games earlier this summer. The UAE Paralympic team won a total of seven medals in three sports, namely athletics, shooting and weightlifting.
The Arab Athlete of the Year Award was shared by Ahmad Abughaush of Jordan for winning a gold medal in taekwondo at the Rio Games, while Kuwaiti shooting sensation Fehaid Aldeehani’s Double Trap gold in Rio handed him his award.
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