Palestine Cup to add some sunshine

Dubai: Polo enthusiasts from the UAE and Palestine have joined forces to make this a brighter year for less privileged communities in the West Bank and Gaza.

The teams will meet at the Dubai Polo & Equestrian Club on January 15 for the inaugural Palestine Cup match, a charitable day out that will include a number of exciting matches as well as a festive lunch-and-fashion showcase by O de Rose.

Proceeds from the Palestine Cup will benefit the Welfare Association, a registered charity in Palestine established in 1983, which has earmarked funds for emergency medical supplies and programmes for disabled children in the West Bank, Gaza, and Lebanon.

Support for needy

"The Palestine Cup offers both companies and individuals an opportunity to make a tangible resolution in the new year of 2010 to support some of the neediest communities in Palestine by taking part in this charitable initiative," Rashid Al Habtoor, one of the Cup's organisers said.

Al Habtoor, an international advocate for the UAE's polo community, added, "Our aim is to create an annual charitable polo event to attract much-needed support for medical, educational and rehabilitation efforts in Palestine that otherwise may be overlooked in the current economy.

"We know that just as different communities come together on the polo pitch, the Palestine Cup can unite a diverse audience to help an extremely worthy cause."

The Palestine Cup is expected to attract international-standard polo players from the UAE, Europe, and around the Middle East region to showcase their equestrian prowess for the charitable initiative.