Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Creative Sports Award winners announced

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Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Creative Sports Award winners announced

The board also named Prince Albert II of Monaco as the ‘International Sports Personality’ for his contributions in spreading and developing sports practice worldwide.

By Kt Report

Published: Wed 26 Nov 2014, 11:40 AM

Last updated: Tue 7 Apr 2015, 9:28 PM

Saeed Hareb, Mattar al Tayer and Dr Atef Odibat. Supplied photo

Saeed Hareb, Mattar al Tayer and Dr Atef Odibat. Supplied photo

Dubai — Shaikh Ahmed bin Said Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline & Group, has been named the ‘Local Sports Personality’ by the Board of Trustees for the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Creative Sports Award.

The board announced 25 sports figures including institutions as the winners of the award that is the first of its kind ever devoted to creativity in sports. Algerian Mohamed Raouraoua was named as the ‘Arab Sports Personality’ for his efforts to support and improve sports in the Arab world.

The board also named Prince Albert II of Monaco as the ‘International Sports Personality’ for his contributions in spreading and developing sports practice worldwide.

Egyptian Rania Elwani’s efforts to promote women’s sports in the Arab world was recognised by the board conferring her with the ‘Arab Sports Personality’ award.

The awards were announced during a Press conference on Tuesday, by Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Saeed Hareb, Secretary General of Dubai Sports Council, Dr Atef Odibat, Member of the Board of Trustees and Vice-President of the Jury, as well as members of the Board of Trustees and representatives of Sports and media institutions in the UAE.

“The sixth edition of the awards is the biggest and most important,” Al Tayer said, adding that the award is named after His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

“This award is known for its value and diversity and I am pleased that the winners are announced few days prior to the UAE National Day celebrations.” Al Tayer added: “A total of 262 local, regional and international names were discussed”

The winners, approved by Shaikh Mohammed, will be honoured during a special celebration to be held on January, 14, 2015 at the Dubai World Trade Centre.

The other winners
•UAE level: Local Athlete: Faisal Fahad Ahmad Al Ketbi, (Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2014); Team Creativity: The UAE Men’s Handball Team (for qualifying for the World Championship in Qatar, 2015); Local Sports Institution:
Mamemo Productions (for creating and organising the Beach Polo Cup).
•Arab Level: Arab Athlete: Ayanleh Souleiman Hassan from Djibouti (1500 metres Gold medallist at the IAAF World Athletics Championships 2014); Arab Referee: Djamel Hamoudi of Algeria (Officiated in the 2014 Brazil World Cup Finals); Creative Arab Administrator: Abdel Hakim Mohamed Issa Al Shino, of Bahrain (the first Arab and Asian president to become President of International Military Sports Council in 2014); Arab Team: The Saudi Football Special Needs Team (for scoring three consecutive wins at the INAS World Football Championship, in 2006, 2010 and 2014); Creative Arab Institution: Fitness Time from the Saudi Arabia (for launching a sports program that aims to orient society towards a healthy lifestyle and encourage individuals to practice sports daily)
•International Level: International Creative Organisation (in recognition of its efforts in organizing the Rabobank Hockey World Cup 2014).

Appreciation Categories
•The “Arab Emerging Athlete: Ahmed Akram Mohamed Abbas of Egypt (For winning the 800m freestyle at the Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing 2014.
•People with special needs category: Ibrahim Al Husseini Hamato of Egypt (for earning second place and winning the silver medal during the African Para Table Tennis Championships- Men’s Category 6 Sharm El Sheikh- December 2013); Athlete who achieved tremendous success: Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain( for organising the 42-km Khalid Bin Hamad Swimming Challenge from Saudi Arabia to Bahrain); Local Referee: Mahdi Abdulrahim Abu Al Hassan (first Arab and Emirati nominated by the Fide World Chess Federation as head of the arbiter’s panel during the Fide World Blitz & Rapid Championship). Yaacoub Ghabesh (for being one of the most prominent names among basketball referees both on the International and Arab level); Best Local Administrator: Ahmad Al Kamali.
•Youth Category: Six Emiratis were picked for this award: Mohamed Saeed Sultan Al Kaabi (Athletics); Salem Ahmed Abdullah Al Shehhi (Athletics) ; Faris Abdullah Mohammed El Janahi; Amna Noaman Mohammed Al Ali (Chess) ; Rashid Abdullah Souwaidan (cycling); Issa Ibrahim El Bloushi (table tennis).

sports@khaleejtimes.com