The UAE Athletics Federation (UAE AF) has hit out at the organisers of the Dubai Marathon, apart from planning to bring the conduct of such events under their fold in the future.

Hadrian Hernandez/Gulf News
Obaid Saeed (left) and Dr Abdul Karim (right) with Wittenberg after signing an agreement to develop athletics in the UAE.

The new measure comes in the wake of complaints from the International Amateurs Athletics Federation (IAAF) and the Association of International Marathons (AIMS) on non payments of cash awards to winners.

"We received a letter from the IAAF and the AIMS claiming that some of the winners of the marathon held in Dubai didn't receive their prize money.

"This is affecting the reputation of our country and we will not accept it," said Dr. Abdullah Abdul Karim, UAE AF Financial Manager, during a press conference to announce the bilateral agreement signed between the UAE AF and the New York Road Runners (NYRR).

The UAE AF financial manager added that all the marathons held in the past were not confirmed by the UAE AF.

"Any organiser must take our agreement and must stick to our standards. We will punish any one who organises a marathon without our agreement," he clarified.

Obaid Saeed, Secretary General of the UAE AF, and Mary Wittenberg, President and CEO, NYRR signed the agreement at the Emirates Towers yesterday.

Ann Hinegardner, senior vice president, NYRR and Khalid Al Falasy of the UAE Embassy in Washington also attended the signing.

"The agreement will enable us to benefit from the vast experience of the NYRR in organising cross country races, marathons, 10-km and 5-km races. It will cover technical, marketing, administrational and organising races which will help in developing athletics in the UAE," said Obaid Saeed.

Mary Wittenberg said that they were happy to work with the UAE AF in developing the sport in the region.

"We were pleased with eagerness and the plans drawn up by the UAE AF officials in contributing to the development of the sport in the country," said Wittenberg.

"The agreement also includes conducting training camps, educational and training programmes, promoting athletics among children."

Dr. Abdul Karim said that the UAE AF have drawn up a seven-year plan to promote the sport.

"The plan starts from 2005 until 2012 London Olympic Games. It's ready to be implemented and we are getting big financial support from the Shaikhs, UAE Olympic Committee and GAYSW."

The NYRR delegation will be returning to the UAE in November to start preparation for the Zayed Marathon, to be held in Abu Dhabi on December 8 as part of the UAE National Day celebrations.