Princess Haya named 'Local Sports Personality'

Her Royal Highness Princess Haya bint Al Hussein, wife of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai, has been named the ‘Local Sports Personality’ by the Board of Trustees for the 7th Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Creative Sports Award.

Princess Haya was awarded in recognition of the efforts during her two-term presidency of the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) between 2007-2014 as well as her contribution to the modernisation of the FEI with increased transparency and good governance, and the establishment of an independent and efficient arbitration regime in addition to environmental protection.

Princess Haya also created the FEI Solidarity programme, patterned after a similar Olympic project, to support the global development of equestrian sport.

Sports figures and institutions were announced as the winners of the seventh edition of the award at a press conference by Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Creative Sports Award, Khalid Ali bin Zayed, Secretary-General of the award, members of the panel of judges of the award and  other officials.

Saudi Arabia's Prince Nawaf bin Faisal bin Fahad bin Abdulaziz was named the ‘Arab Sports Personality’ for his efforts to support and improve sports in the Arab region during his presidency of the Youth Welfare (Ministry of Youth and Sport).

Prince Nawaf bin Faisal was also the former president of the Saudi Arabian Olympic Committee, president of the Union of Arab National Olympic Committees, president of the Union of Arab Football Associations (Pan-Arab Football Federation), president of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation, member of the International Olympic Committee, president of the Islamic Solidarity Sports Federation, president of the Saudi Paralympics Committee, and member of the International Relations Commission at the International Olympic Committee.
 
“It is with deep pride and joy that we gather here today, during the celebration of the 44th UAE National Day. Sport is indeed flourishing, all thanks to the support of our wise leadership, its consistent approach, and the efforts of our loyal citizens. Only days ago, we witnessed sports events held in different UAE cities, on the occasion of the UAE National Sports Day, which we were honored to be part of, following the instructions of HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai. Currently, more than 1200 athletes from 56 different countries are participating in the FAI World Air Games 2015, held under the patronage of HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Sports Council,” said Al Tayer during the inauguration of the press conference.

“Before announcing the winners, we would like to thank the athletes and local, Arab, and international institutes which all applied to the competition in hopes of winning this pioneering award based on the vision of its patron HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The Award is honoured to be named after the UAE’s Vice President and be part of the ‘Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives’ which are the biggest humanitarian, social, and developmental initiatives in the world,” he added.

“The General-Secretariat of the Award worked for a whole year to implement the directions of HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai and the directions of Sheikh Ahmed Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Award. The Board of Trustees set the framework and mechanism which aim at achieving the goals of the largest award in terms of value and categories and the first of its kind ever devoted to creativity in sports,” said Khalid Ali Bin Zayed.

“For the very first time in the history of sports awards, representatives of the Award visited sports institutes and local clubs at their headquarters. In total, 30 clubs, federations, and institutes were visited to explain the focus of competition and mechanism of candidacy and present a sample file demonstrating all competition requirements. Meetings were also held with representatives of Olympic, Arab, and international institutes, federations, and committees during the Award’s participation in international events, mainly SportAccord.  With the participation of experts in all sports fields, workshops were organised to promote the Award’s positive achievements and communicate with the local, Arab, and international sports sectors,” he added.

The Chairman of the Board of Trustees also revealed the number of candidates during the Award’s seventh edition.

The Sportsmen and the winning sports institutions of the 7th edition are:
 
The Local Athlete Award
Saif Khalifa Bin Fetais Al Mansouri – United Arab Emirates

For winning the World Championship Golden Medal in Skeet Shooting Range, and for his qualification for the finals of the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games.
 
The Local Administrator Award
Majid Abdulla Murshid Al Asimi – United Arab Emirates

For his efforts in the field of disabled sports, and for being elected President of the Asian Paralympic Committee in the General Assembly elections of  2015.
 
The Local Referee Award
Mohammad Essa Hassan Alazab – United Arab Emirates

For being the first UAE expert and accredited supervisor in Sprints and for holding an International Referee badge in Equestrian sports.
 
The Local Team Award
The UAE Archery National Team for the Disabled – United Arab Emirates

For winning the World Championship Gold Medal, in Croatia in 2015.
 
The Local Organization Award
SkyDive Dubai  – United Arab Emirates

For launching an awareness initiative about extreme sports and providing safety measures for those who practice them.
 
Abu Dhabi Falconers Club  – United Arab Emirates

For its efforts in spreading and developing Falcon fowling as an important traditional sport, and for organising its competitions.
 
The Arab Athlete Award
Ehab Abdul Rahman El Sayed Abdulrahman - Egypt

For winning the silver medal in javelin throwing, in the World Championship Athletics in China in 2015. 
 
The Arab Administrator Award
Sheikh Khalid Bin Abdulla Al Khalifa – Kingdom of Bahrain

For winning the titles of: Vice President of the International Federation for Equestrian Sports, member of the Executive Office, and President of the Seventh Regional Community in the International Federation for Equestrian Sports.
 
The Arab Referee Award
Fahad Mohammed Edwan Muhammad Al Maradasi – Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

For officiating the final game in the Youth World Cup between Brazil and Serbia despite him being the youngest referee in the championship.
 
The Arab Coach Award
Mudawi Khairuddin Bin Majid Bin Khalifa - Republic of Algeria

For leading the Club Wifak Setif to win the Confederation of African Football Champions League, and the African Super  Cup (CAF super cup) in addition to the Algerian League in one season.
 
The Arab Organization Award
Egyptian Armed Forces (School of Military Sports) – Egypt

For launching an initiative to prepare sports champions to represent their country. The initiative is entitled “The Road of the Talented to the Olympic and International Stages of Honor”.
 
The International  Organization Award
The International Judo Federation, IJF - located in Switzerland

For its sportive-humanitarian initiative by introducing the Judo to the Syrian Refugee Camps.The main focus is on the educational dimension of Judo and its values ​​which are based on friendship and appreciation, humility and sincerity, courage, respect, self-control and kindness. And learn the necessary life skills that allows them to build a better future for them.
 
Local Emerging Athlete Achieved Outstanding Success in Sports Award

Based on the directions of HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, President of the Dubai Sports Council and the Patron of the Award, and based on the decision of the Board of Trustees to make the audience participate in the elections for the best three young athletes, by voting through 'Dubai Sports Channel', the following is the six young athletes candidates for the final vote:

Saeed Abdullah Saeed Swaidan – The UAE, Gulf and Arab Champion in Cycling.

Shahad Ahmed  Abbas Jumaa – winner of the Golden Medal for Fencing (single) for under 15 years of age, in the Arab Championship.

Ali Abdul Aziz M. Al Fahimi – winner of the Golden Medal in the Asian Cities Chess Championship.

Rashid Ali Ebaid Al Zaheri – the first and the youngest UAE and Arab Racing Driver to win the Formula One European Racing Karts.

Ahmed Anwar Khamis Al Nuaimi  – first winner of the Motor Cross Championship in Qatar, and in Oman championship for motorcycle’s in 2015.

Rowadha Essa Rashid Al Serkal – first winner of the Children Asian Chess championship and the fourth winner in the school championship in 2015 (for the seven years old kids category).
 
An emerging Arab Athlete Achieved Tremendous Success in the Field of Sports Award
Fatima Saad Mahmoud al Mashhadani- The Republic of Iraq

For winning the Golden Medal at the World Youth Archery Championship 2015.
 
Athlete Achieved Success within Major Humanitarian Challenges (Disabled Category) Award
Mohammed Khaled Mohammed - Syrian Republic

For winning the Gold Medal in Shot Putt in The Brazilian International Championship and for scoring a new international record.

An athlete Achieved Outstanding Successes Award (Arab)
Khaira Sidi Ya’coub – The Republic of Algeria

For being the first 5 stars female Boxing Referee on the international level and the best referee in the International Boxing Tournament.

Local Outstanding Intellectual Production in the Sports Field Award
Mohamed Mourad Ali  Al Joker – United Arab Emirates

For his efforts in the local and Arab documentation by writing nine books and thousands of articles in addition to more than 200 hours of television presentations.
 
Local Organization Contributed to Community Service Award
Physical Qualification Center for National Service and backup Authority – United Arab Emirates
 
(Physical Qualification Center is an integrated action programs for the military personals of the National Service)
 
Physical qualification center of a multi-disciplinary approach is made to  include  an integrated action programs is made up of five specialised sections namely;  physical performance department, health education, sports medicine department, psychosocial support, nutrition and diet section) contributes to physical Readiness Center to prepare soldiers and military personnel to perform their duties to the fullest.
 
An Outstanding Arab Media Sports Initiative Award
The program 'Echoes of the stadiums' ( Sada Al malaeb) MBC Channel – Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

For launching their initiatives “No to Discrimination” that fights discrimination in all Arab playing courts.