Record number of 194 entries for World Para Powerlifting World Cup in Dubai

The 8th Fazza World Para Powerlifting World Cup Dubai 2017 will be held from 25th February to 4th March at the Dubai Club for the Disabled.
 
Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, the Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Sports Council (DSC), it is being organised and supervised by the Dubai Club for the Disabled with the support of their strategic partners Dubai Sports Council, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), the General Authority for Youth and Sports Welfare (GAYSW), and the UAE Paralympic Committee.
 
"The eighth edition of the Fazza World Para Powerlifting World Cup shows that the Dubai championship is one of the biggest and strongest competitions around the world in Powerlifting. On behalf of the Organizing Committee we extend our great thanks to His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, the Crown Prince of Dubai, founder of this Fazza Championships for the Disabled, who is supporting us every year and seeks to develop this championship. We in the organizing committee of Dubai Club for the Disabled are not saving any effort to develop the sport," said H.E. Majid Abdullah Al Usaimi, Championship Director of Fazza Championships for the Disabled at a press conference held at the Dubai Club for the Disabled on Wednesday.
 
A total number of 194 entries from 33 countries will be competing in the Fazza World Para Powerlifting World Cup Dubai 2017, which will serve as a qualifier for the World Powerlifting Championship to be held in Mexico in September this year.
 
H.E. Majid Al Usaimi said Fazza Championships for the Disabled is leaving a lasting legacy for the sport.
 
"It is not just a matter of sport and giving medals during this five-day competition. It is beyond that. People with disability have a right in the community in terms of education, health opportunities, accessible environment and other things. Through sports, it's a big gateway to show your ability to the community. That great iniative came from His Highness Sheikh Hamdan in 2014 while the Law for Disabled in Dubai in 2014 was brought by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. As a result, people with disabilities are showing their abilities in an environment with equal opportunities," added Al Usaimi.
 
Jon Amos, Chairman of the IPC Powerlifting Committee, said Fazza World Para Powerlifting World Cup Dubai 2017, is one of only two qualifying events before the World Para Powerlifting Championships.
 
"Hungary will host another World Cup qualifier in May. Dubai is a very important tournament. Before Rio Olympic Games we had only one World Championship. Now we have every two years creating a totally new dynamic pathway for competitors to qualify for Tokyo 2020," said Amos who lauded Dubai for being a hub for IPC sports.
 
"The fact that we have got an agreement to have five competitions in Dubai is a big thing. We have not done that with any other country yet. If we didn't believe that this is one of our key competitions during the qualification period, then we would not have had an agreement," said Amos thanking the Dubai Club for the Disabled and other stakeholders in the Fazza World Para Powerlifting World Cup Dubai 2017.
 
Hamad Beljaflah, Head of the Public Relations Committee, said all arrangements have been finalised to welcome the participating countries and athletes.
 
"Teams will start arriving on 25th February. A Technical Meeting will be held the following day while the Opening Ceremony will be held on 27th February," he said.
 
Fathi Lashehab, Technical Manager of the championship announced the 32 countries taking part in the 8th Fazza World Para Powerlifting World Cup Dubai.
 
They are Afghanistan, Algeria, Armenia, Australia, Cameroon, China, Egypt, Great Britain, Georgia, Ghana, Ireland, India, Iraq, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Libya, Malaysia, Moldova, Magnolia, Morocco, Netherlands, Poland, Syria, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Thailand, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Kyrgystan, Jordan and UAE.
 
UAE will be represented by 12 athletes, including females.

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