Abu Dhabi: A high-powered delegation from the UAE will depart for Doha today to take part in the Arab Games with hopes of bettering their medals tally than the previous edition four years ago. The contingent is headed by Shaikh Ahmad Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of the UAE National Olympic Committee (UAE NOC).
The 124-member contingent (87 men and 37 women) will take part in 16 different disciplines, in addition to 23 physically challenged athletes ( 18 men and four women).
"A special criteria and conditions were set by the UAENOC for athletes to take part in the Games." Saeed Abdul Gaffar Hussain, Secretary General of the NOC, told a press conference on Tuesday. "We are taking part in the disciplines in which we believe can win medals for our country."
The UAE will compete in athletics, swimming, cycling, wresting, judo, equestrian (endurance, dressage and showjumping, shooting (men and women), sailing, table tennis, taekwondo (men and women), tennis, weightlifting, bowling, snooker, billiard, karate (men and women), chess, bodybuilding and golf.
"We are not taking part in football due to guidelines set by the UAE FA." Mohammad Ali Al Kamali of UAE NOC said. "The UAE players are busy with their club commitments and to prepare for the AFC competitoins while the national teams have obligations which do not allow them to take part in the Games."
Tough competition
The UAE contingent returned from the last Pan Arab Games in Cairo, winning 34 medals (10 gold, 11 silver and 13 bronze). "We are optimistic that the athletes will do even better but in all cases," the Secretary General said.
"This time, we expect the competition to be very tough as all countries are bringing their best athletes because the organisers, Qatar, have announced big cash incentives to the winners for the first time in the history of the Games.
"This has encouraged the top athletes, who were reluctant in the past, to participate." Al Kamali said.
While the athletes will leave for Doha according to their participation schedule, the tennis and ladies volleyball teams have already left for Doha. Mohammad Al Zahmi, the bodybuilding champion, is the last athlete to join the UAE delegation as he was added only on Tuesday after passing the dope tests. Al Zahmi is the only bodybuilder to represent the country in the competition.
The UAE official delegation includes Abdul Rahman Al Owais, the Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development; Yousuf Al Sarkal, First Vice-President of the UAENOC, Ebrahim Abdul Malek, the Secretary General of the General Authority for Youth and Sports Welfare, Mohammad Mohammad Fadil Al Hameli, Saeed Abdul Gaffar Hussain, Mohammad Ali Al Kamali, Abdul Mohsin Al Dossary, Salem Obaid Al Shamsi, Khalid Al Midfa, Mohammad Al Mahmoud, Ahmad Sa'ad Al Sharif and Ahmad Nasir Al Fardan while Juma Rashid Al Dhahiri, the UAE Ambassador to Qatar, will join the delegation there.
