Sheikh Hamdan presents Outstanding Arab Athlete award to Salah

Dubai - 'Awards give athletes the motivation for more efforts and improvements,' Salah said.

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Sports Council, presented Liverpool's Egyptian football star Mohamed Salah with the Outstanding Arab Athlete award during a presentation ceremony for the 10th edition of the Mohammed Bin Rashid (MBR) Creative Sports Award on Wednesday at the Dubai World Trade Centre's Sheikh Rashid Ballroom.
Later, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, received the Award winners at his Zabeel Palace.
"Awards give athletes the motivation for more efforts and improvements," Salah said at his acceptance speech on behalf of the winners.
"And an award that holds the name of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum is great and huge one, because its value comes from Sheikh Mohammed's great position as the pioneer innovator in all fields," the Liverpool star added.
"Yesterday, I won the African Player of the Year award for the second time in a row, and today I am honored to be here to receive this prestigious award, and with a group of leading athletes and champions, including young people from different Arab countries, the award will be an incentive for them to achieve more achievements in the future," he remarked.
He thanked Sheikh Mohammed for launching the 'great award' that aims at developing sport in the UAE, the Arab world and the world.
"And thank you for this appreciation and honor which means a lot to me as it comes from the UAE the country, that is close to our hearts," Salah said.
"May God help you to achieve the goals of this award and support our athletes and youth," he concluded
Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the President of the National Olympic Committee & Chairman of the Award, also presented awards to the other winners.
It is the biggest award of its kind in terms of value and diversity of categories, and dedicated to inspiring creativity in sports - not just in the UAE, but around the Arab world and the globe.
sports@khaleejtimes.com