Sport | Other Sports

All roads lead to Beijing for UAE stars

The rest of the UAE athletes participating in the 29th Olympic Games starting on August 8 in Beijing, will leave on Wednesday for the Chinese capital.

  • By Sayed Ali, Senior Reporter
  • Published: 23:35 August 3, 2008
  • Gulf News

  • Image Credit: WAM
  • Shaikh Ahmad Mohammad Hasher Al Maktoum after arriving in China.
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Dubai: The rest of the UAE athletes participating in the 29th Olympic Games starting on August 8 in Beijing, will leave on Wednesday for the Chinese capital.

Shaikh Ahmad Bin Mohammad Bin Hashr Al Maktoum, the Gold medallist in the shooting double trap at the Athens Olympic Games, and Shaikh Saeed Bin Maktoum Al Maktoum, who will take part in shooting (skeet), arrived already in Beijing last week.

Both are undergoing daily training sessions preparing for the shooting events. Shaikha Maitha Bint Mohammad Al Maktoum held a training camp in Korea and will leave from there for Beijing. Shaikha Maitha will be carrying the UAE flag in the opening ceremony.

Flying the flag

Shaikha Latifah Bint Ahmad Al Maktoum will participate in the showjumping event. She is well prepared and expected to display some fine form in the competition.

Shaikh Ahmad Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President, Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Group, the National Olympic Committee President, and Abdul Rahman Mohammad Al Owais, Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development, are expected to attend the much anticipated Games opening ceremony in Beijing on Friday.

Adil Khalid Abdul Gaffar, the UAE's sailing hope, left yesterday for Beijing to make his final preparations before the event.

Ebrahim Abdul Malek, the NOC secretary general, will leave tomorrow along with the information delegation from UAE local papers.

Abdul Malek, who left for Cairo for a short trip, will be arriving arrive today.

Sprinter Omar Juma Bilal Al Salfa (200m), who returned early this morning from Poland where he underwent a six week training camp in preparation for the Olympics, will leave on Wednesday for Beijing.

Additionally, swimmer Obaid Ahmad Al Jessmy (100m freestyle) and Saeed Rashid Al Qubaisi (Judo 73kg category), will leave on the same flight with Al Salfa for Beijing to eagerly join the rest of the UAE delegation at the Olympic village.

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