Dubai: Dubai Educational Zone (DEZ) were crowned overall champions after topping the medals table in the three-day UAE School Olympic Games that concluded at Dubai Police Officers Club and Al Wasl Club on Saturday.
Dubai, who ended day two with 37 medals including 13 golds, added a further nine to their total to take the honours in the second running of this annual competition.
Sharjah Educational Zone (SEZ) consolidated their second position on the final day, claiming three golds, four silvers and two bronze medals for an overall haul of 25.
Ajman Educational Zone (AEZ), who were marginally ahead of defending champions Fujairah overnight, slipped back to fifth with a total of 13 medals, while Fujairah finished third with 27 — eight golds, seven silvers and 12 bronzes.
Held under the patronage of Shaikh Ahmad Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of the UAE National Olympic Committee (NOC), the School Olympics saw nearly 1,100 students participating.
The Dubai zone received Dh50,000 along with the winner’s trophy, while Sharjah got Dh30,000 and Fujairah Dh20,000.
At the presentation ceremony, Mohammad Al Kamali, General Secretary of the UAE NOC, was joined by Saeed Hareb, Vice-President of Dubai International Marine Club (DIMC), Marwan Al Sawaleh, Under-Secretary at the Ministry of Education, and Nasser Abdul Razzaq Al Razouki, President of the UAE Karate and Taekwondo Federation.
The individual medal winners were also rewarded with cash incentives, with a gold medal earning Dh3,000, while silver and bronze medallists got Dh2,000 and Dh1,000 respectively.
“I am absolutely thrilled with the manner in which this championship has been conducted,” Al Kamali told Gulf News. “Among these winners I can see champions of the future for the UAE and we will do everything to encourage these youngsters to reach their full potential with specialised training.
“For us this is a good start to a programme that will further empower our youths and enable them to reach deep within and bring glory to the country in the future.”
Al Sawaleh said the competition was a win for everyone. “I am proud of what we have achieved this year, not just by the results we have got but due to the hope these youngsters bring to our country as future champions,” he said. “I have always believed that school is the incubator of talents and skills and I am glad this competition has brought forth so much talent.
“The real deal is, now that we have identified the champions of the future, we need to start earnestly in looking after these youngsters so that they grow up into worthy citizens of this great nation.”
One of the highlights of this year’s event was that preliminary round winners were assigned for specialised training under the guidance of elite coaches at 10 zonal academies set up earlier this year.
