Abdul Malik makes plea for granting nationality

In a fervent plea to sports authorities back home Ibrahim Abdul Malik, general secretary of the UAE Olympic Committee requested that talented athletes be granted UAE nationality.

Abdul Malik stressed that the sports officials should look closely at athletes who are capable of representing the country with success at the Asian and Olympic levels.

"We must think of granting nationality to athletes who can represent the UAE excellently at the Asian and Olympic Games," said Abdul Malik.

"This could help us win medals. We must think of new ways to uplift our standards so that we can be a force at the Asian and International level. We also have to look at many ways to widen the foundation of sports in the UAE. Giving nationality to talented athletes is not easy and requires a political cover."

Abdul Malik made his statements after the UAE delegation garnered only two silver and one bronze medal in bowling. On the other hand, nine disciplines including football, basketball, handball, athletics, shooting, karate, tennis, bodybuilding, and snooker saw them fail to win a single medal.

Putting this performance in perspective Abdul Malik said, "Frankly, we cannot compete with other GCC countries who grant nationality to athletes in order to win medals in the Arab, Asian and Olympic Games.

The UAE NOC general secretary however stated that they don't have the right to interfere in the policies and politics of other countries. "They can decide what is good for them as long as it's under international law and the sports regulations."

Abdul Malik continued that the policy of granting nationality was not a new one. "It's consistent from one country to another and will not stop. I think we have to deal with the reality. We have to find solutions and try to keep pace with them."

Abdul Malik said that countries gave nationality to some athletes within a month, "whereas there are sportsmen who have been living here for more than 20 years and are unable to get nationality."

The NOC general secretary added that granting nationality has become the done thing in football, basketball and volleyball.

"Why can't we open this door to benefit from the athletes who live in the UAE and who can play in our clubs and national teams?

"If we want to win medals and achieve success in the Asian Games we must change our style and ideas. If we continue with the old style we will not achieve anything.

"First we have to ask ourselves one question: what do we want from sport? I will be realistic and say we will not achieve any success in the coming Asiad in Qatar 2006."

Abdul Malik concluded his announcement by taking athletics as an example. "I don't think we have a sport called athletics, because many GCC countries are ahead of us by miles and we are still at the bottom."