First ever UAE National Sports Day to take place on November 25

Matt Jones - Editor 06:50 29/09/2015
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  • Speaking the language of sport: UAE National Sports Day.

    The first ever UAE National Sports Day will take place on November 25 and will kick off the celebrations ahead of the Emirates’ 44th National Day on December 2.

    The event will showcase the UAE’s close relationship with the sports sector, with each of the seven emirates set to organise a sporting event on the day.

    The theme will be ‘UAE Unites Us’ with the aim of proving that in a country with people from a variety of cultures, who speak many different languages, the one common language that unites everyone is that of sport.

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    The inaugural National Sports Day was launched at Etihad Towers in Abu Dhabi last night, with a full schedule of events now set to be drawn up by the UAE’s various sports councils and announced in the coming weeks.

    Hundreds of events are predicted to be scheduled, to reflect the hobbies of the diverse nationalities of people living in the UAE.

    Mohammed Ibrahim Al Mahmoud, vice president of the General Authority for Youth and Sports Welfare, said the event will mark a new chapter in the history of the Emirates’ love affair with sport.

    He said: “December 2 1971 is a day that unites us. On that day we united and our dream came true. The impossible was made possible, and the UAE flag rose above all heights.

    "Since that day, we have been through amazing moments that unite us. They have been carved into the walls of this land. Sport is our united language. That is the message we want to send out. We want to promote a healthy lifestyle and enhance sports in our community.

    “We will reach out to the workers in their houses, to the students in the schools, it is not just for the sports professionals, it is for everyone living in the UAE. 

    “You do not have to be someone who does sport every day, but this event will make you want to do sport on this day. We need to 
    encourage people and to guide them to feel this unity.”

    Proposed activities announced by the organising committee for the day include recreational sports, social communal sports and competitive sports, in addition to cultural and awareness programmes related to health, the environment and traditional cultural and physical activities.

    Excited: Al Mahoumd (l) and Hareb.

    The event will be the start of a busy period for sport and celebration in the UAE, coming just days before the Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix at Yas Marina Circuit and a week before National Day.

    “The last week of November has a lot of national events so the 25th was chosen to stand out and to make this event shine,” added Al Mahmoud.

    “The date is set. November 25 every year in the future will be known as National Sports Day. This day we will spread the culture of the UAE, so there will be no winner or loser. 

    “The prize will be competing on this day and being part of the UAE’s sportsmanship and the love of sport.

    “With the launch of the campaign there will be a responsibility on everybody, whether parents, teachers,  or schools, to encourage everyone to do sports on this day and support the unity of the UAE. 

    “Every school and every facility will have freedom to choose their own events. Universities and schools will have a major role and events held on the day could reach more than 200.”

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