Dubai: The Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Community Sports Initiative was launched by Shaikh Ahmad Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President, UAE National Olympic Committee (UAE NOC) with grand fanfare at the Dubai Sports Council (DSC) premises on Wednesday.
Held under the patronage of Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of DSC, the new initiative will be run on six basic pillars of implementation over a three-year time frame.
“That is why sports is one of the key sectors supported by the UAE leadership,” said Shaikh Hamdan, while praising the launch of the initiative by DSC in collaboration with ten local government entities and departments in Dubai to promote sports and physical activity that enhances happiness and positivity.
“The initiative is a quality addition to community sports in Dubai and is supported by various government entities,” Shaikh Hamdan pointed out. “These entities are together working to achieve the national objective of building a healthy, happy and productive society by raising awareness of the impact of physical activity on health and well-being,” he added.
Assisted by Mattar Al Tayer, Vice-Chairman of DSC, Saeed Hareb, General Secretary of DSC and a host of other top dignitaries representing various government and private entities, Shaikh Ahmad called on all residents of Dubai to respond positively to such a bold move, which will enhance the health and happiness index in the country.
The project will encompass various interactive add-ons to fuel health and well-being among residents by roping in private sports clubs and communities based in Dubai.
“Our main aim is to make health and happiness an essential part of the lives of our citizens and residents alike, so that there is well-being and positive energy to fuel growth at all levels. I am confident that the launch of this initiative will see a healthier and robust Dubai,” Shaikh Ahmad remarked.
“All departments, clubs, institutions and bodies belong to one team and we all need to unite and work towards this common goal to build a healthy, happy and productive community with sports activity as the focal point,” he added.
The aim of the new initiative is to increase the numbers of those carrying out physical and sporting activities while placing Dubai as one of the top modern cities in the world.
“At the same time we intend to bring in new events and sports activities that will be aimed at fulfilling the aspirations of future generations with an eye to combat modern-day society evils such as obesity, smoking, diabetes, fatigue and heart ailments,” Hareb told Gulf News.
The first stage of the initiative witnessed at least ten government entities backing the new project, including the DSC, Dubai Police, Dubai Municipality, Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), Health Authority, Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), Dubai Civil Defence, Community Development Authority, Permanent Committee of Labour Affairs and Dubai Media Incorporated.
The next stage of the project will see a range of six events that will be held before the end of October.
These include the Sport Industry Forum (October 19); the Desert Warrior Challenge at Dubai Police Training Facility (October 21); the Dubai Muscle Show at Dubai International Marine Club (October 21-22); a build-up cycle ride at Al Qudra (October 26); the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series at Pier 7 (October 28) and Hello Kitty and Friends Halloween Fun Run at Dubai Media City (October 28).
“The main push right now is to ensure we have the involvement of a cross-section of the communities we live in. So we have generally incorporated various events to ensure we get maximum participation,” Hareb added.
In 2009, the DSC had launched its highly-successful pioneering ‘Dubai Pulse’ programme to enhance physical activity at various levels of society. “This programme has managed to create the desired awareness among communities and it is now time for us to take it a step higher,” Hareb remarked.
— With inputs from WAM
