By Ashley Hammond, Staff Reporter www.gulfnews.com
Dubai: The second edition of the Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Creative Sports Awards were held yesterday at the Armani Hotel, Burj Khalifa, Downtown Dubai.
Shaikh Maktoum Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, handed out the awards to 18 sports personalities and institutions representing the UAE and the surrounding Arab region.
The winners were selected from 132 submissions from 16 countries.
Ahmad Al Sharif, secretary general of the Dubai Sports Council, said of the winners in his address to the audience: “They all share the visions and characteristics consolidated by our first creative sportsman in the country His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai”.
His Highness Dr Shaikh Sultan Bin Mohammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah was recognised for his services and support of local sport across the UAE and Sharjah with the UAE Sports Personality Award.
Essam Bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Chairman of Sharjah Sports Council, collected the accolade in his absence.
World Cup bid
Meanwhile Qatar’s Shaikh Mohammad Bin Hamad Al Thani received the Arab Sports Personality of 2010 for his contribution towards Qatar’s successful 2022 World Cup bid.
Shaikha Naima Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah of Kuwait was awarded for her improvement of women’s sport in the region and UAE footballer Ahmad Khalil received the gong for most promising athlete.
In the meantime Arab Creative athlete, coach and institution awards went to Ahmad Mohammad Al Asy (Jordanian gymnast), Jama Mohammad Aden (Somalian athletic coach for Qatar) and the Sudanese Athletic Association respectively. UAE awards for athlete, coach, team and institution also went to Yahya Mansour Al Hammadi (Ju-Jitsu), Ali Hamad Al Badawi (football referee), the UAE Bowling Team and Al Ain Sports Club.
Lebanon’s Tony Khoury received an award for the Arab sportsman’s contribution towards the improvement of international sports, while the award for the athlete with the highest moral values went to Syrian swimmer Firas Mulla.
Humanitarian challenges
Major General Mahmoud Ali on behalf of The Egyptian National Olympic Committee received a prize for reinforcing the social role of sport.
Blind Moroccan Aikido specialist Younus Jaad took the gong for achievement in light of major humanitarian challenges.
Abu Dhabi Sports Council and the Qatar National Olympic Committee were awarded for their contributions to the enrichment of sport. These were collected by His Excellency Mohammad Al Mahmoud and Shaikh Saoud Bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani.
