Dubai: Ahmad Al Kamali has vowed to continue the good work for athletics in the UAE after being re-elected as President of the UAE Athletics Association (UAE AA) earlier this week.
Born in 1958, Al Kamali has grown through the ranks. His first involvement with the UAE Athletics Association was first as an athlete, where he represented the UAE at various regional and international events, including the GCC Track and Field Championships in Basra, Iraq (1974); the Pan-Arab Games in Damascus, Syria (1976) and the Eighth Asian Games in Bangkok, Thailand (1978).
After that he moved into administrative duties with his first major responsibility coming in as its General Secretary in June 1988. Since then, Al Kamali has served under all presidents till he was elevated to the top post in 2008.
Last Tuesday’s re-election made Al Kamali the only one to be elected for a third successive term. But it was no way an easy election as the Dubai-based lawyer won 10-8 against former athlete Mohammad Bin Hindi, with one club [Emirates Club, Ras Al Khaimah] failing to turn up due to traffic. “It was not easy this time as the votes were split evenly. Some wanted a change, while the others fortunately stuck on to my experience,” Al Kamali told Gulf News.
“And now that I have the vote behind me I promise to continue all the good work we have been doing at the athletics association to put the UAE at the top of the sporting world,” he added.
Earlier this year, Al Kamali also retained his position on the prestigious IAAF Council (till the 2020 Tokyo Olympics) and as a member of the GCC Athletics Organising Committee. “The UAE has been trying very hard to host the Asian Athletics Championships, and this additional four-year term will definitely give us this time frame to make this dream come true,” Al Kamali noted.
“A world-class athletics track and a stadium is what needs to come first, and after that we can hopefully fulfil all other aspirations for our growing brood of athletes,” he added.
As the president, Al Kamali will call for a meeting of the new council sometime next week, when portfolios will be allocated. Sahar Al Obaid has retained her position as womens’ representative, while close confidante Saad Al Muhairi lost, making way for the appointment of a new general secretary.
“We need to build up on all the good work we’ve put in so far. The presence of new blood in the association is a good sign and we promise to continue the same way,” he added.
