Ms. Lara Sawaya, Director of the HH Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Global Arabian Flat Racing Festival and Mussalam Al Amri received the award from H. H. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs.
HH Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development, Chairman of the General Authority for Youth and Sports, who welcomed the gathering, Ebrahim Abdul Malek, the general secretary of the General Authority of Youth and Sports Welfare (GAYSW) and the UAE FA’s Yousef Yaqoub Al Serkal were also present on the stage during the awards ceremony.
A thunderous applause greeted the mention of His Highness Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai as one of the top achievers in sports for the year 2012.
Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan presented Sheikh Majed Bin Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority a classy artwork which depicted Sheikh Mohammad’s brilliant win in the 2012 World Endurance Championship.
Sheikh Mansour honored hundreds of sportspersons which included over 25 national sports federations, veteran officials, officiating (referees) officials a worth over Dh17.8 million was presented to the top sports achievers.
Mohammed Ahmed Al Murr, the Speaker of Federal National Council, H. H. Dr Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, Adviser to UAE President, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, a number of Sheikhs, ministers, dignitaries and senior sports officials were also present.
Sheikha Latifa bint Ahmed bin Juma Al Maktoum for winning bronze medal in the Dubai International Championship for Show Jumping and many among others were also honoured.
Commenting on the award, Ms. Lara Sawaya said, “For four years we have been promoting Purebred Arabian horse racing, flat racing for lady jockeys and other allied events. This award will encourage us to endeavour to achieve more.”
“All credit goes to His Highness Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs and Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women’s Union, Supreme President of the Family Development Foundation (FDF) and Head of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood the Festival for their support in this direction,” Ms Sawaya added.
The HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Flat Racing Festival is organized by the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority and co-ordinated by Abu Dhabi Sports Council in association with Emirates Racing Authority, IFAHR and Emirates Arabian Horse Society, supported by General Authority for Youth and Sports Welfare and Fegentri with Emirates airlines as the official carrier and sponsored by Invest AD, Arabtec Holding PJSC, SAS Investment, Al Rashid Investment, Areej Al Ameerat, Al Awani General Enterprises, Kabale, the UAE’s General Women’s Union, the HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy, Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition 2013, Dr. Nader Saab Switzerland, Wathba Stud Farm and Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club.
