Colourful opening to NAS Ramadan Sports

Shaikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum presents a team jersey to a player during the launch of the fourth edition of the NAS Ramadan Sports Tournament on Tuesday.

Shaikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of the UAE National Olympic Committee (UAENOC), formally opened the fourth edition of the NAS Ramadan Sports Tournament on Tuesday.
Held under the patronage of Shaikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Sports Council (DSC), this year there are seven sporting disciplines including competitions in futsal, volleyball, a 10km road run, a 75km cycling race, wheelchair basketball, archery, goalball and deaf football all vying for a total prize fund of Dh8 million.
The competitions will get underway with the preliminary group matches of the volleyball tournament from June 8 to 15.
The opening ceremony consisted of a light and sound show that emphasized Dubai's drive towards a better happiness index.
Immediately after the opening ceremony, there was an exhibition goalball match in which the UAE Whites came back from a one-goal deficit to beat the UAE Reds 4-2. The hero for the winners was Nawaf Khalfan as he scored all four goals for his team.
The UAE Whites were trailing 1-2 at half-time, but it was Khalfan's goals that proved handy as they went on to win before an appreciative opening night's crowd.
"This year's tournament has the theme of 'Limitless Abilities' and with that aim we have included two more sporting disciplines for special needs athletes," said Saeed Hareb, General Secretary, Dubai Sports Council.
"In keeping with the wishes of Shaikh Hamdan we have added new sports for special needs persons including Goalball and Deaf Football to go along with the Wheelchair Basketball. This event has grown in just three years and I am confident that this year too we have a wonderful series of competitions that will bring the entire community together," added Saeed Hareb.
 Meanwhile, the padel tennis competition got under way at the NAS padel courts. The Real Racquet Academy teams got off to winning starts in the teams' competition with their first team defeating Team Caged-1, 6-3, 6-4 while their second side beat Team Caged-2, 6-0, 6-2.
 The men's doubles tournament also started with Emilio Misas and Pedro Rios securing a 6-1, 6-1 win over Mohammed Al Mansoori and Xavier Masson in the only match played.