Day: June 20, 2023

ABU DHABI, 20th June, 2023 (WAM) — The Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy, in cooperation with the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, has announced the opening of nominations for the seventh edition of the Fatima Bint Mubarak Women Sports Award, which will run from 20th June until 31st August, 2023. Held under the patronage of H.H. Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women’s Union (GWU), President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation (FDF), and the “Mother of the Nation”, the award is also supported by Sheikha Fatima bint Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of the Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy, and President of the Abu Dhabi and Al Ain Ladies Clubs. This came during press conference held today at the Erth Hotel in Abu Dhabi, to reveal the details of the seventh edition of the award, in the presence of Aref Al Awani, Secretary-General of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, Dr. Omniyat Al-Hajri, Vice Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of the Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy, Dr. Suad Al-Suwaidi, representative of the Presidential Court, and Mariam Al Mansoori, representative of the Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy. The award ceremony will be held on 15th November, with the prize money totalling AED 1,800,000, distributed across 11 categories for individual and group levels. The individual level awards include Best Arab Female Athlete, Best Emirati Athlete, Best Youth Athlete, Best Paralympic Athlete, Best FemaleMale Coach, and Best Sports Media. A new category, Best Sports Mother, has also been introduced for this edition. At the level of sports federations and institutions, the awards Best Youth Development Program, Best Team, and Best Sports Creative Initiative. The Academy also grants a special award to honour the Arab Sports Personality of the Year, which is determined by a jury to honour an Arab personality for outstanding performance and contributions in the field of women’s sports. “The award aims to continue supporting the directives of empowering women and highlighting their achievements in the sports sector, which is a goal that enjoys generous support and generous care from H.H. Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak,” Al Awani said. “This has had a great impact on the renaissance and progress of women’s sports in the Emirates and the Arab world.” Applications can be submitted online through the award’s official website www.fbmwomensportsaward.ae. The award is the first of its kind in the region, and one of the most distinguished in the Arab sports community. It aims to empower women and highlight their achievements in the sports sector throughout the entire year, in addition to striving to improve participation, enhance competitiveness and excellence in women’s sports, creating a stimulating environment to help them advance.

Source: Emirates News Agency

ABU DHABI, 20th June, 2023 (WAM) — Abu Dhabi will host the 3rd edition of the Spartan World Championship from 8th to 10th December 2023 which will return to Al Wathba desert for the second consecutive year. Organised by Abu Dhabi Sports Council, the event will gather elite athletes from around the world, reaffirming Abu Dhabi’s position as a global destination for sporting events. The 2021 edition, which was held for the first time outside the US and in the Middle East, achieved great success with the participation of more than 4,500 male and female competitors from more than 50 countries around the world in the Liwa desert – Tal Mereb – in Al Dhafra region. The 2022 edition was held in the Al Wathba desert and attracted more than 5,000 male and female competitors from 75 countries from around the world. The finalists will compete for the Men’s World Championship and the Women’s World Championship on 9th December, while the World Team Championship will be held on 10th December. The opening day on 8th December will be dedicated to receiving all participants in preparation for the start of the competitions the next day. The Abu Dhabi Sports Council and Spartan will also organise community races suitable for all age groups on the sidelines of the event as part of the sports council’s strategy to ensure that global events still provide an opportunity for all members of society to participate and improve the quality of life. Aref Hamad Al Awani, Secretary-General of Abu Dhabi Sports Council, said, “We are proud to announce – once again – that Abu Dhabi will host the Spartan World Championship for the third and second time in a row in the Al Wathba Desert, after the great successes achieved by the first and second editions. “We promise everyone that the championship will continue its successes during the upcoming edition, through the sand dunes of Al Wathba desert, which in itself constitutes an obstacle, a barrier, and an interesting challenge for participants from all over the world.” Al Awani said that endurance sports and overcoming the obstacles created by the Spartan community fall within the framework of supporting a healthy lifestyle, which reflects the message of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council through its hosting, organisation and support for such events to enhance the quality of life. Joe De Sena, Founder and CEO of Spartan, said, “We are excited to be back in Abu Dhabi again after creating two impressive editions, and two exceptional experiences for the Spartan community.” De Sena said he was happy to cooperate with Abu Dhabi Sports Council, pointing out that the various obstacle courses and barriers will display the beauty of desert nature in the Al Wathba sand dunes, further stoking the determination of participants to reach the finish line.

Source: Emirates News Agency