Sports community joins hands to hold auction for Dubai Cares

Dubai: The UAE's first Olympic Gold Medal; a trip to Argentina to watch a football match as a guest of Maradona; lunch with cricketing icon Sachin Tendulkar.

These are just some of the items that will be on offer at a charity auction to be held on October 22 under the auspices of Shaikh Rashid Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum and the Dubai Sports Council with the proceeds going towards Dubai Cares.

The auction will include more than 13 unique experiences from across the sporting arena from Formula 1, to Grand Slam tennis and Premier League football, with lots including the chance to be a pit-crew member for a Formula 1 race team during a Grand Prix and VIP tickets to the 2008 Superbowl.

The UAE's first Olympic Gold Medal winner Shaikh Ahmad Bin Hasher Al Maktoum - who won the double trap shooting at the 2004 Olympics in Athens - has even donated his historic medal, it was announced at a press conference Wednesday night attended by Shaikh Mayed Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

Football team

Fifa referee Ali Bu Jsaim has also donated the whistle used during the 2002 Fifa World Cup match between South Korea and Japan, which will be auctioned alongside football shirts signed by Pele and the entire German national football team, according to Mattar Al Tayer, Dubai Sports Council Vice-President.

Karl Fowler, founder and CEO of Kraken Media Group, co-organisers of the charity auction, said they are hoping to generate at least $1 million [about Dh367 million] through the sale of the auction lots.

Also among the items is a Dubai Cares Manchester United Opus - a massive compendium of writings and iconic photographs, personally signed by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, Shaikh Rashid Bin Mohammad and Shaikh Mayed. Yesterday, Mohammad Hussain Al Sha'ali, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, donated an additional Dh1 million towards the initiative.

On Wednesday night, Dh12 million was presented to Shaikh Mayed, who met with leaders of the retail sector for the Dubai Cares campaign, bringing the total raised to over Dh726 million.

A cheque worth Dh5 million was donated by Majid Saif Al Ghurair, chief executive of the BurJuman Centre, and Dh1 million was donated by both the Choithram Group and Jumbo Electronics.

Mickey Jagtiani, chief executive of The Landmark Group presented Dh5 million to Shaikh Mayed at the Ramadan Tent at the Grand Hyatt in Dubai during a gathering with property and retail sector managers.

Shaikh Rashid launched the retail sector's participation in Dubai Cares two weeks ago when he urged the management of shopping malls and retailers in Dubai to actively participate in the campaign and raise funds to provide primary education for underprivileged children across the world.

From today, Dubai Cares merchandise including caps, shirts, badges and banners will be sold at all Eppco, Enoc and Emarat stations. Shirts are priced at Dh35, caps are Dh20, car banners at Dh20 and badges at Dh15. The proceeds from the sale of the items will go towards the campaign.

-With inputs from Alaric Gomes, Staff Reporter