UAE sports stars to be honoured in Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi: The General Authority for Youth and Sports Welfare has organised a ceremony on Monday to honour UAE athletes with outstanding sports achievements in 2012.

The ceremony will be held at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Community Development’s National Theatre in Abu Dhabi from 7pm.

It is being held under the directives of President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and under the sponsorship of Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs.

His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, will be honoured for his gold medal performance in the World Endurance Cup race at Euston Park in the UK, while Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Crown Prince, and Shaikh Majid Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Culture, will also be honoured for their gold medals in the same championships.

Among those also being honoured will be Shaikh Saeed Bin Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum for winning bronze at the 12th Asian Shooting Championship and Shaikh Juma Bin Dalmouk Al Maktoum for winning gold in the double trap at the same event.

Individuals who also helped drive forward the associations they headed will be honoured. A total of 485 people from UAE sports associations will be recognised with prize money valued at more than Dh17 million, which will be distributed to all 14 sports bodies.