The Maktoum Ramadan Sports Championship (MKC) to be held in Fujairah from August 13 to 27 received a major boost from Watani Programme, the UAE’s unique celebration of national identity.
“It is not only a sports event but a cultural festival which brings together all members of the community especially the young,” said Nasser Al Yamahi, director of the organizing committee of the tournament being held for the fourth year in succession.
“We have a special contest for disabled athletes and expanded the championships to include many cultural events so that there will be greater participation of families,” he said hoping that last year’s attendance of 32,000 would be eclipsed this time.
Nearly 1,000 athletes are expected to compete in 18 disciplines during the championship with the Fujairah Tennis and Country Club being the venue for most of the events. Sand Drag racing and squash will be the new attractions this year in addition to sports such as football, volleyball, tennis, basketball, chess, cricket, table tennis, taekwondo and swimming.
The MKC Ramadan tournament has grown from modest beginnings to attain Sheikh Maktoum bin Hamad Al Sharqi’s vision that aims at spreading sports in the Emirates in order to achieve harmonious growth for everybody within the framework of sportsmanship.
It also serves as an ideal platform for Watani, launched under in 2005 under the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to mobilise the collective strength of the community and motivate citizens to turn their dreams into reality.
“The most important aspect of this tournament is the expansion from only sports to other community based activities. To realize the effect on society sports can have is quite significant. This is something we would like to encourage,” said Mohammed Baharoon, Deputy Director General of Watani.
As part of the tournament Watani will host three seminars by sporting stars such as 14-time Middle East Rally champion Mohammed bin Sulayem, footballers Khalid Ismail and Fahad Khamis. “They are prominent sporting personalities who have achieved their dreams and this is the inspiration looking for the younger generation,” said Baharoon.
All the sessions will be held at the Masafi Hall of Coral Resident Hotel, Fujairah between August 19 and 21.
The seminars will focus on how champions in sports are role models for society, the determination shown by special needs athletes, how to achieve a healthy lifestyle even after retirement and by modifying diets during Ramadan.
Watani aims to use this tournament to remind the community of the need to align personal objectives with national goals as part of its ongoing outreach campaign built around the theme of ‘Turning the dream into reality’.
“Our next dream is the UAE Vision of 2021. We want those who are participating in this championship to believe that they could be representing UAE in the Olympics and help achieve UAE’s dreams,” said Baharoon.
Five-a-side football will be held on each night of the MKC tournament, according to Ibrahim Khameis.
There will be more women’s events this time with football being added to basketball and volleyball. It is likely to be held at the Ibn Al Nafees School, according to Huda Swaidan who is head of the women’s sports.
The first weekend of the MKC tournament will see qualifying races for the Motocross event. Mohammed Belushi who is in charge of motocross said there will be three events: Open Pro, Youth (upto 18 years) and Quadcross or quad bike racing (4 wheels) at the new course near Fujairah Tennis and Country Club.
Long time Fujairah resident Guimo Gonzalez is the basketball organizer, Kirk Hastings (tennis and squash) and Colonel Ahmed Hamdan (Special Needs).
For registration call 0509892000 or log into www.mkc.ae.