Today's Edition
Kuumar Shyam (Abu Dhabi)
The National Olympic Committee (NOC) has recapped the year and called it an exceptional one where UAE athletes won 47 coloured medals across events and competitions in a period that also witnessed many firsts on the administrative side.
The National Olympic Movement achieved “outstanding numbers by overseas sports participation, especially at the continental level, as well as events and initiatives held throughout the year,” a statement said, such as contributing to “the UAE’s sustainability slogan by organising the eighth National Sports Day with the participation of 70,000 participants from across the country”.
The highlight was the UAE’s performance in Hangzhou for the 19th Asian Games, where the contingent won 20 medals overall – the best for the country since its first participation in 1978.
Many records and outstanding results were achieved in the UAE’s history of continental participation. The Asian Para Games, which followed in China, saw UAE notch another 11 medals to make it 31 in total. Another 27 medals came at the fifth Arab Games in Algeria held in July. For the first time in NOC history, a Board of Directors for the period 2023–2024 was formed, headed by His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Second Deputy Ruler of Dubai and President of the National Olympic Committee, in accordance with international sports regulations and standards. It includes several committees that comply with best practices of the Olympic Movement.
Some athletes have qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, particularly in the sports of show jumping and cycling, while more have become eligible to participate in the qualifying tournaments.
AsiadAt Hangzhou, the UAE contingent of 140 athletes (102 male and 38 female) put their best foot forward among 12,000 athletes from 45 nations.
The athletes won medals in five disciplines: Judo, Jiu-Jitsu, Karate, Equestrian, and Cycling. The jiu-jitsu team won 10 of those; including the second consecutive gold medal for Faisal Al Ketbi, after his past feat at Jakarta Asiad. In addition, Ahmed Al Mansouri became the first cyclist among all Arab nations to notch victory in the track event.
On the 64-square arena of chess, Wafia Al Maamari was at her best for the UAE in mental fortitude.
The Al Ain Chess and Mental Games Club member became part of Asian Games history for the longest match across all sports disciplines and not just chess.
Against a fancied opponent in Irene Sukandar of Indonesia, a Women’s Grandmaster and two-time Asian champion, she hung on for five hours, 32 minutes, and 23 seconds of continuous play with 171 moves between both players.
His Highness Sheikh Ahmed honoured the athletes (of Asiad and Asian Para Games) and encouraged them to maintain their level at a special ceremony on November 20 at Emirates Towers.
Arab Games
The UAE’s haul of five golds, six silvers, and 16 bronze medals, included five medals for people of determination (one silver and four bronze). Chess players were the stars. The chess team won five medals, including two golds from the men’s and women’s teams each, two golds in rapid and blitz chess by Grandmaster Salem Abdul Rahman, and a silver for the rapid chess winner Rouda Al Serkal.
Our national team for modern sailing, which comprises several promising champions, won five medals (a gold from Khalifa Al Rumaithi, 1 silver and 3 bronze medals).
The participation of the fencing team was unprecedented at the Arab Games, and the athletes impressed by winning three medals (two silvers in the men’s and women’s Épée events, and a bronze in the Fleuret competition for teams).
The national cycling team won three medals; including a silver in the general individual race won by our national team cyclist Abdullah Jassim Al Ali, a bronze medal in the team time trial, and a bronze medal in the individual race for teams.
The People of Determination team had an incredible performance at the Arab Games, winning five medals; including a silver in the wheelchair basketball competition and four bronzes in the athletics competition.
National effortsRegarding community events under its umbrella, the NOC organised its annual activities and programmes, including the National Sports Day (NSD) and the Olympic Day, with more innovation as it is held annually in conjunction with the International Olympic Committee’s anniversary. The organising unit adopted a new concept in line with the declaration of 2023 as the Year of Sustainability during the eighth edition of the event on March 2, 2023, under the slogan “The UAE brings us together”.
This concept was to apply “sports sustainability” standards at all sporting events. The officials for the NSD initiative reviewed how to achieve this direction by organising 24-hour sports events, focused on sustainable activities such as using bicycles, walking, and reducing the use of vehicles on this day.
The NSD was held at the Shabab Al Ahli club in Dubai with over 70,000 people registering on the website, and 500 events spread across the nation’s various emirates. It saw significant community participation from a range of age groups as well as several public figures, sports, and the media.
