Dubai: UAE National Olympic Committee (UAE NOC) Executive Council Member Shaikh Salem Bin Sultan Al Qasimi on Monday officially launched the UAE National Olympic Day celebrations.
Held under the slogan ‘A day for all Emirates’, the event will see one sport held in each of the seven emirates on December 18.
Abu Dhabi will host a jiu-jitsu competition, special needs sports will go to Dubai, Sharjah will see a shooting contest, rugby will be at Ajman, rowing in Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain will host athletics.
They will all kick off at 10am on December 18 and last until 3pm. All events will conclude with the handing over of the official torch at the breakwater in Abu Dhabi.
Shaikh Salem was accompanied at Monday’s press conference at the Armed Forces Officers’ Club in Abu Dhabi by Mohammad Hilal Al Ka’abi, Second Vice-President of the UAE NOC, Mohammad Al Kamali, Secretary General of the UAE NOC, and executive council members Abdul Mohsin Al Dossari, Shaima Al Zarouni and Dr Maey Al Jaber.
UAE poet and singer Saud Al Ka’abi and singer Fayez Al Saeed have been appointed ambassadors for the UAE National Olympic Day, which will be held under the patronage of Shaikh Ahmad Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE NOC President.
Shaikh Salem, who is also president of the UAE Fencing Association, said: “We need people to think about sports as a way of life, and I am sure this UAE National Olympic Day will help us realise this goal.”
Al Ka’abi added: “The celebration of the National Olympic Day epitomises the paramount importance attached to UAE sport by various sectors. The Olympic movement is moving ahead with the realisation of the lofty objectives inspired by its noble values and principles.”
