Ramadan Games to have increased budget this year

Abu Dhabi: The Armed Forces Officers Club's 10th Ramadan Games will begin from the second day of Ramadan.

Announcing details of the multi-discipline Games, Major General Mohammad Hilal Al Ka'abi, Deputy Chief of Staff and Chairman of Armed Forces Officers Club, said Thales and Etihad Airways were the main sponsors.

"A grand opening ceremony is being planned for the Games which are being held under the patronage of Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Presidential Affairs," he said.

"The various sub-committees for the Games have been receiving entries which close on September 16," said Al Ka'abi.

"The total budget for the Games has been increased to Dh5 million, up by a million from last year. This year, we have included table tennis and cage football to the list," he said.

While the feature event will be the football competitions, events like bowling, snooker, tennis, table tennis, shooting, Play-station and separate events for women and handicapped will be held.

Good platform

Richard Deakin, Managing Director of Thales, said they were supporting the Games for the third successive year. "We find the Ramadan Games a good platform to get ourselves acquainted with the community," Deakin said.

"Thales deal with radar systems and unmanned aeroplanes among others and we like to make our presence felt in the region," Deakin said.

"Etihad is delighted to be playing such an integral part in this year's Ramadan Games, which is a special event held over a very special time," said Raymond Korban, Regional General Manager, UAE & Oman, Etihad Airways.

"The snooker event has already attracted some top players from the sub-continent while the lawn tennis has also received entries from many European players," said Col Mohammad Al Bushlaibi, Head of the Organising Committee.

"Football will see a total of 38 teams in the fray while for most other disciplines, competitions will be held separately for professionals and amateurs," Col Al Bushlaibi said.

George Bekhazi (AFOC Manager), Lt Col Saleh Al Salomi, Major Ahmad Khamis, Major Abdul Bari Al Kindi, Major Mussabah Al Ka'abi (Media Officer) and Major Abdul Hakim Banasa along with other sub committee heads attended the press conference.