Fifth edition of MBR Award launched

The Secretary General of the Dubai Sports Council launched the fifth edition of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Creative Sports Award at the Inter-Continental Hotel Festival City on March 28.
 
“We have witnessed the huge success of this award when we look at the 77 winners in various categories of this award in the past four years,” Dr. Ahmed Al Sharif, Secretary-General of the Dubai Sports Council said in his opening comments at the launch.
 
“Each year we have worked hard to ensure we have become better, be it in new categories that have been included or in raising the profile of the award internationally,” he added.
 
Dr. Ahmed Al Sharif was joined by Dr. Khalifa Al Sha’ali, Board Member of Trustees and Head of Technical Committee of the Award and Ahmed Al Hammadi, Member of the Communications and Marketing Committee for the Award.
 
For the first time this year, Sheikh Hamdan has directed that the Mohammed Bin Rashid Creative Sports Award recognise three promising UAE junior sportspersons in a special category during the fifth edition of the awards.
 
As per the criteria, promising sportspersons under the age of 18 years who have done well during the past season will be eligible under this new category of awards. “This is being done to encourage our athletes to higher goals,” Dr. Ahmed said.

It may be recalled that international jet-ski champion Al Mur Mohammed Bin Huraiz was last year presented with a special prize for being “emerging young UAE athlete”.
 
Another change will be the institution of a separate category for recognising the work of international sports federations rather than being open for National Olympic Committees like in 2012.
 
In 2012, International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge was presented with the award for his distinguished efforts in enriching the Olympic Movement, while the British Olympic Association was given an award for its impeccable hosting of the 2012 London Olympic Games.
 
But the big winners on the night at the fourth edition was Sheikha Hayat Bint Abdul Aziz Al Khalifa of Bahrain for her distinguished efforts in uplifting sports for women and Algerian middle distance runner Tawfiq Al Makhloufi for winning the 1,500 metres gold medal at the 2012 London Games.
 
“Over the past four years this award has come to be a virtual recognition of athletes and sports bodies in the UAE, the Arab world and on the international stage. We are confident of receiving an astounding number of entries to the various categories during this edition as well,” noted Dr. Ahmed Al Sharif.
 
The annual Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Creative Sports Award was instituted to support and the highlight the pioneering creative efforts of individuals, bodies and institutions in the field of sports in the UAE, Arab world and internationally.
 

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