UAE athlete holds aloft Special Olympics flag in ‘proud moment for all Emiratis'
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Al Etihad
3 hours ago
- Al Etihad
Under the directives of Mansour bin Zayed and patronage of Ahmed bin Mohammed, Emirates Falcons International Cup to mark launch as annual event starting from 2025–2026 season
20 Aug 2025 17:44 DUBAI (WAM) In keeping with the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Presidential Court; and the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Second Deputy Ruler of Dubai, President of the International Federation for Falconry Sports and Racing, the UAE Falcons Federation has accorded approval for organising the Emirates Falcons International Cup, an international falconry championship to be held annually across various continents, starting from the 2025–2026 championship aims to elevate falconry and associated sports on the global sporting scene while upholding the highest standards of the sport and consolidating the UAE's position as a leading destination for falconry. It also seeks to promote and preserve falconry's rich heritage through innovative objectives are to be achieved through organising international events that foster the spirit of sportsmanship and healthy competition while advancing sustainability and growing the popularity of the sport in countries and communities worldwide by featuring it prominently in their respective sporting constant follow-up of Sheikh Zayed bin Hamad bin Hamdan Al Nahyan, Vice President of the International Federation for Falconry Sports and Racing, and Vice President of the UAE Falcons Federation, has also been instrumental in providing the initiative necessary championship will be the first of its kind to sport the UAE's name and be held outside its borders, with hosting rights to be awarded to the country that demonstrates the highest readiness and compliance with the championship's criteria and conditions among the members of the International Federation for Falconry Sports and Racing. Finer details will be announced later during a press conference to be held by the UAE Falcons Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum affirmed that the leadership's unstinting support for falconry sports denotes the great importance accorded to preserving diverse aspects of authentic Emirati heritage, especially since falconry represents a distinguished symbol of cultural legacy not only nationally but also globally. His Highness emphasised that the leadership's support for falconry presents a unique contemporary model to be emulated globally from a cultural and historical perspective, with world-class sporting events further consolidating the impact Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed noted that the UAE has set new benchmarks globally in advancing falconry and growing its appeal as a competitive sport, drawing upon its wealth of experience in popularising the sport inspired by the pioneering initiatives and programmes launched decades ago by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who devoted great attention and effort to promoting falconry and other heritage sports, the fruits of which are apparent Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed added that, thanks to the keen support of its leadership, the UAE has emerged as a global falconry hub and a pioneer in taking the sport global by actively devising strategies and innovative ideas to enhance its reach and his part, Sheikh Zayed bin Hamad bin Hamdan Al Nahyan welcomed the announcement of the new competition, confirming that it comes at a time when the UAE has secured a leading position for falconry among heritage sports that have generated immense interest to him, the country has helped establish a solid base of falconry purveyors and contributed to the creation of an international entity aimed at promoting and organising the sport globally according to competitive rules, principles, and impeccable sporting values in the form of the International Federation for Falconry Sports and Zayed bin Hamad noted that associating the UAE's name with major falconry sporting events lends such championships a distinctive character and motivates participants to deliver their best performances and achieve impressive results, given the prestige attached to sporting events named after the Rashid bin Markhan, Secretary-General of the International Federation for Falconry Sports and Racing, and the UAE Falcons Federation, affirmed that the UAE's unique approach in promoting falconry sports has earned it global success has been achieved through well-studied steps that have enabled this ancient sport to once more take centre stage on the international sporting scene, with falconry's historical role and close link to the national identity informing all such initiatives, he Markhan expressed his pride in the leadership's unwavering support for the sport and his gratitude to His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed for his patronage of the Emirates Falcons International Cup. He noted that various entities and institutions concerned with the sport in the UAE work in perfect harmony to popularise it far and wide while celebrating its glorious heritage.
Zawya
5 hours ago
- Zawya
Sharjah's humanitarian initiatives inspire global success stories led by people with intellectual disabilities
Sharjah: Intellectual disability has not been a barrier to self-advocate Maryam Hassan Abdullah Shaheel Al Qahtani in achieving her goals. Her journey has been marked by multiple awards and recognitions across local and international sports events, including representing the UAE national team at the Special Olympics. In addition to her role at Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services (SCHS) as a teaching assistant, where she accompanies students to therapy sessions and trains them in basic skills, Shaheel receives full employment rights, equal to her colleagues and coworkers without disabilities. Passionate about photography, she also competes in numerous local and international athletics championships. Shaheel expressed her heartfelt gratitude to His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, and Honorary President of SCHS, for His Highness's continuous support for people with disabilities across various fields. She also thanked Her Excellency Sheikha Jameela bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Director General of SCHS, for her constant efforts in supporting and empowering people with disabilities, while promoting their inclusion, and enhancing their quality of life. Empowerment and achievements Many people with disabilities in Sharjah have achieved inspiring milestones that exemplify perseverance and family empowerment, reflecting a high level of social awareness of this significant group. Sharjah presents a pioneering model for caring for and empowering people with disabilities through a comprehensive system of policies, legislation, and initiatives that help build an inclusive environment, spurs creativity, and encourages active participation. Perseverance and determination Shaheel stands as a role model of determination, ambition, and resilience since joining SCHS. She has proven herself, developed her talents, and channeled her abilities into community service with the full support of her family and the educational and social networks around her. She points out that the support she received from SCHS, which provided an inclusive environment, enabled her academic and professional progress and social integration. This support boosted her self-confidence and ability to engage with diverse members of society, including people with disabilities, driven by her humanitarian duty and responsibility rooted in acceptance and inclusion. Shaheel believes that the continuous efforts of SCHS, its teachers and staff has contributed to garnering global recognition and interest in hosting the World Congress 2025 'We Are Inclusion', in partnership with 'Inclusion International'. She highlighted the significance of hosting this event in Sharjah for the very first time in the MENA region, noting that it plays a pivotal role in raising awareness and fostering the participation of people with intellectual disabilities and their families from across the globe, ensuring they are equally valued in all aspects of life. She emphasised that the congress's theme, 'We Are Inclusion', embodies the spirit of community engagement by providing self-advocates with intellectual disabilities with the opportunity to speak for themselves about their rights. It places them at the forefront of discussions and decision-making, empowering them to share their stories and aspirations directly with policymakers and amplify their voices across institutions and organisations. Families support achievements Sharjah's official entities prioritise integration and granting full rights to people with disabilities. However, family support and collaboration between institutions and communities remain essential for ensuring that this group thrives across various fields and secures substantial achievements. Among many inspiring self-advocate stories is that of 24-year-old Hamdan Mohammed Al Naqbi, whose family members consider him a reliable and vital member in organising their daily affairs. Since his condition was first identified, his family ensured no difference in treatment between him and his siblings. Open dialogue and equality were central to their approach. His sister, Nadira Al Naqbi, says: 'Hamdan's condition was diagnosed when he started kindergarten. Our mother took him to specialised care centers, and the SCHS branch in Khorfakkan began the support journey, offering him an educational environment that aligns with his abilities and needs, while helping him develop a variety of life skills.' Nadira highlighted SCHS's major role in supporting Hamdan through educational and specialised rehabilitation programmes. Due to these efforts, he became a supervisor overseeing the work and supporting his peers, while taking on leadership roles in several activities due to his sense of responsibility. She commended SCHS for its rich empowerment and vocational training programmes that have built Hamdan's skills and enabled him to take part in summer activities, art programmes, environmental initiatives, and computer training. She also highlighted the joint efforts of SCHS and Inclusion International in organising the upcoming World Congress 2025 'We Are the Inclusion', one of the most significant events organised by Inclusion International. The congress serves as a platform for members to connect, gain insights into the novelties worldwide, find new ideas, while sharing success stories and strengthening the identity of people with intellectual disabilities. The Self-Advocacy Unit Since officially adopting the concept of self-advocacy on January 1, 2009, SCHS has made substantial progress. It hosted seminars, forums, and meetings. It incorporated self-advocacy into students' Individualised Education Plans (IEPs), established councils for mothers, fathers, and siblings. Besides, it created a Higher Student Council to enhance communication, participation, and engagement with the rest of departments at SCHS. The higher council also serves as a platform for addressing the challenges that self-advocates face and ensure their rights both within and outside SCHS. Launched in 2022, the Self-Advocacy Unit aims to strengthen and develop self-advocacy efforts across all SCHS branches and schools. It raises awareness of the role of self-advocates and manages their representation in self-advocacy activities at the local and international levels. The unit enhances the role, empowerment, and qualification of self-advocates by offering training sessions and workshops, as well as awareness and organisational meetings. It also establishes and develops partnership agreements and collaborations aimed at curating self-advocacy activities, in addition to the development and implementation of initiatives that advance self-advocacy practices at SCHS.
Sharjah 24
10 hours ago
- Sharjah 24
Sharjah Women's Taekwondo triumphs in Kazakhstan
Great achievement Amna Al Loughani from Kalba Women's Club won the silver medal in the under-68 kg weight category for the girls, while Fatima Saad from Sharjah Women's Sports Club won the silver medal in the over-59 kg weight category for the girls' juniors. Her teammate, Maryam Jassim, won the bronze medal in the under-51 kg weight category for the girls' juniors. Raising the UAE flag high Commenting on the results, Abdullah Hatem, Taekwondo Technical Director at the Sharjah Women's Sports clubs, said that the Kazakhstan Open 2025 Taekwondo Tournament is a strong tournament that brought together a group of highly competitive players. The medals players won in this competition are a significant achievement and a positive indicator of their developing level and their ability to compete against the best competitors. These results reflect the players' commitment to training and the efforts of the technical staff across the Sharjah Women's clubs. They are a new step towards achieving further successes and raising the UAE's flag in international forums. This participation is an extension of the development process witnessed by the taekwondo teams across all Sports Women's clubs . International championships provide an ideal platform for honing the players' skills and interacting with the best competitors on the global stage, paving the way for further success and raising the flag of Emirati women's sports in international forums.
