2,000 pupils mark sports day at Global Village

Dubai - The event was organised by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) in partnership with Global Village.

Over 2,000 students wearing caps and T-shirts bearing the Year of Tolerance logo gathered at the Global Village on Thursday morning to mark the fourth National Sports Day of the UAE.
Held under the theme 'Emirates Unite Us', the event was organised by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) in partnership with Global Village and aimed at bringing together students from various private schools.
Leading the student gathering was Dr Abdulla Al Karam, Chairman and Director-General of the KHDA, along with Saeed Mohammed Hareb, Secretary-General of the Dubai Sports Council (DSC).
Honouring the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, founding father of the UAE, the event started by dignitaries lighting the Zayed Torch near the centre stage. Students dressed in red and blue from the Philippine School marked the launch of the event with a live band march past.
Integrating the theme of tolerance, the concept of this year's sports day saw students performing activities of different countries outside their pavilions. Dr Karam and Hareb toured the Global Village to witness students playing different sports activities - football, cricket, karate, Seven stones, Kabaddi - outside the pavilions of their home countries.
"The UAE Sports Day is an occasion that brings people together for the love of sports. I believe that sports help build a healthy and strong community. Every year, the sports day is aligned to the themes the country announces for the year," said Dr Karam.
"Last year, we celebrated the Year of Zayed by marching from the Union House, where the declaration of UAE as one country was signed. This is the Year of Tolerance and the Global Village is a place that represents the world with its different cultures (pavilions) and we have chosen students from different backgrounds to play their country's national sport outside its pavilion. We are celebrating our diversity in sports and this gives the best message of harmony and tolerance."
Hareb said he is grateful that the country gives so much importance to sports. "The hosting of the Sports Day event at the Global Village is significant as it gels with the theme of Year of Tolerance. This place has over 25 pavilions of different countries - a mini version of the world. Students playing different games outside their country pavilions is a beautiful way to show the UAE's diversity as well as unity," he said.
saman@khaleejtimes.com

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