President honours Olympic Football Team

President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan has granted each player in the UAE National Olympic Football Team Dh500,000 in appreciation for their qualification to the London Olympics 2012.

Sheikh Khalifa congratulated the UAE team and the technical and management staff for the qualification to the team to the football finals of the London Olympics 2012.

The UAE President received the UAE Olympic Football Team here today at Dhiyafa Palace in the presence of Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the President's Representative and Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler's Representative in the Western Region.

Sheikh Khalifa lauded the historic feat scored by the UAE National Olympic Team for the first time to qualify for the Olympics to represent the UAE in international sports gathering. He added that the appearance of the UAE sports teams in different sports occasions reflects the development and progress attained by the UAE in all fields.

He urged them to represent the UAE in the London Olympics in prestigious manner that matches the UAE's standing, adding that the sports today reflects the progress.

Sheikh Khalifa underlined that the UAE is keen on promoting the sports and rehabilitating youth armed with high spirits and good manners. "Good sports nurtures brain and brings up an aware generation that puts reputation of his country and people first".

He pledged to support young Emiratis who represent the country in all regional and international sports occasions that could keep UAE's head high and reflect the true image of the country.

For their part, the UAE Football Association and Olympic Team members expressed their gratitude to the UAE President for his unlimited support to Emiratis in all fields. They pledged to the President to exert their efforts to honour the country in the London Olympics 2012. They also expressed their pleasure of meeting the President.

Also present were Sheikh Tahnoun bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Ruler`s Representative in the Eastern Region, Sheikh Surour bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan, National Security Advisor, Sheikh Saeed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Ruler`s Representative, Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, Sheikh Khalid bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Chairman of Etihad Airways, Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, Executive Council Member, Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Ahmed Jumaa Al Za'abi, Deputy Minister for Presidential Affairs, a number of Sheikhs, senior officials, Chairman and members of the UAE Football Association, management and technical staff of the UAE National Olympic Football Team and a number of sports leaders in the UAE.

Khalifa receives credentials of nine new ambassadors

President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan affirmed UAE's keenness to build friendship, cooperation, and extend bridges of tolerance with other countries to further develop economic, cultural and tourist relations.

Sheikh Khalifa said this while receiving the credentials of nine new ambassadors from friendly countries and Head of European Commission in the UAE at Al Dhiyafa Palace in Mushrif in the presence of Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the President's Representative and Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler's Representative in the Western Region.

He received the credentials of the ambassadors of Mexico, Cyprus and China.

The UAE President also received the credentials of six non-resident ambassadors of Zimbabwe, the Head of European Commission, ambassadors of Latvia, Georgia, Cambodia , Vatican and Malta.

He expressed his best wishes for the ambassadors in their new assignments to bolster the relations with the UAE.

Sheikh Khalifa conveyed the greetings to presidents of these countries, wishing good luck to the new envoys to develop relations with the UAE in all fields.

He said: '' The UAE will provide support through competent authorities to facilitate your missions and boosting cooperation ties between your countries and the UAE."

For their part, the new ambassadors conveyed the greetings from their presidents to President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, wishing him good health and prosperity, and more progress for UAE people.

They also expressed their happiness to represent their countries in the UAE, and hailed the wise policy of the UAE under the leadership of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, which enabled the UAE to attain huge achievements.

Present were Sheikh Tahnoun bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Ruler`s Representative in the Eastern Region, Sheikh Surour bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan, National Security Advisor, Sheikh Saeed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Ruler`s Representative, Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, Sheikh Khalid bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Chairman of Etihad Airways, Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, Executive Council Member, Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Dr Anwar Mohammed Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ahmed Jumaa Al Za'abi, Deputy Minister for Presidential Affairs, a number of Sheikhs and senior officials.

The new envoys were accorded the official reception at Dhiyafa Palace in Mushrif.

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