Latest news with #F34
North Wales Chronicle
2 days ago
- Sport
- North Wales Chronicle
New Anglesey basketball court opened by Valley brothers
Kieran and Ryan Jones were instrumental in the creation of the court in their home village of Valley after the Community Council approached them for ideas on how to redevelop the area. Kieran, who is hoping to compete in the F34 shot put at the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympics, was the one who suggested the space be used for basketball. He said: "They contacted us to ask what would we recommend for the community, and I said, 'What about a basketball court?"' "Sport has changed my life and it's important that we start at grassroots level. "I'm 23 now, but when I was growing up there was nothing like that nearby. "I had to travel everywhere, you had to book a court - so it's great that it's just there on your doorstep." The sportsman, who recently won the British Universities F34 shot put title and is the reigning Welsh champion, believes the court will inspire future generations to pursue their sporting dreams. The brothers, who both have hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP), a neurological disorder that affects the hip and leg muscles, have been heavily involved in sports from a young age. They have both represented Wales in wheelchair basketball and have made sporting success part of their lives despite their condition. Former Coleg Menai students Ryan and Kieran Jones on the new basketball court at Parc Mwd with Councillor Neil Tuck (Image: Coleg Menai) They attended Coleg Menai's Llangefni campus, with Kieran studying between 2020 and 2022, while Ryan completed his Light Vehicle Maintenance and Repair studies last year. Despite his own challenges, Kieran is determined to inspire others with his story, saying: "The amount of setbacks I've had, the amount of times I've cried to my parents… setbacks make you stronger, but barriers are there to be broken, not to stop you. "You've got to push through that and you'll achieve what you want to if you keep going." READ MORE: Welsh Deputy First Minister praises Anglesey farm's sustainable practices Having completed his first year of a BSc in Sports Coaching at Cardiff Met University, Kieran returned home to cut the ribbon on the new basketball court in Parc Mwd, on behalf of Valley Community Council. At the opening ceremony, Councillor Neil Tuck, the council's chairman, thanked all stakeholders who made the project possible through their support. He also offered special thanks to G L Jones, the builders behind the project, and Lagan Aviation Infrastructure Ltd, who supplied all the infrastructure for free. Swish Coaching Ltd also attended the ceremony, offering a free coaching session for young people.
BBC News
18-03-2025
- BBC News
UK Athletics denies manslaughter of Paralympian Abdullah Hayayei
UK Athletics (UKA) and its former head of sport have pleaded not guilty to charges of manslaughter following the death of Paralympian Abdullah 36, died on 11 July 2017 after a metal cage fell on him while he was training at Newham Leisure Centre in east London ahead of the World Para Athletics a pre-trial hearing at the Old Bailey, the UKA denied a further charge of failing to ensure the safety of non-employees, while Keith Davies, 77, from east London, denied failing to take reasonable care for health and to the charges, the shot put cage that Hayayei was using was allegedly erected without its "base structure". Hayayei, who represented the United Arab Emirates at the Rio 2016 Paralympics, had been due to compete in the F34 shot put, discus and javelin events at the 2017 World Para Athletics Championships in was accused of having "routinely" supplied or provided shot put and discus cages at events between 2012 and 2017 which were "without their said base structures".The charge of corporate manslaughter alleged that the conduct of the organisation's senior management "fell far below what could reasonably be expected".It was also alleged that between October 2012 and July 2017, UKA failed in its duty to provide "safe athletics equipment" for international athletics and para-athletics events, including at competition and training events. Mr Davies is accused of a "gross breach of duty of care".It is alleged that in his role as the head of sport for the 2017 World Para-Athletics Championships, a cage he "knew or ought to have known was provided/supplied and erected without its said base structure".He has also been accused of a health and safety at work offence, relating to supervising the provision of discus and shot put cages in the period between October 2012 and July was represented at the hearing by Simon Antrobus KC, who entered the pleas on the organisation's Davies was granted unconditional next hearing in the case will be at the Old Bailey on 12 October trial is scheduled for December 2026 at the Old Bailey. It is estimated to last eight weeks and is due to be heard by Judge Mark Lucraft KC, the Recorder of London.
What's On
07-03-2025
- Sport
- What's On
ICC Champions Trophy in Dubai: Top tips to keep during the India versus New Zealand cricket match
Howzatttttt! India takes on New Zealand in an adrenaline-pumping cricket match on Sunday, March 9, 2025 to see who will raise the ICC Champions Trophy in Dubai. When India picked up the win in the semi-finals, thus confirming they were in the finals, tickets sold out within an hour, with over 100,000 fans virtually lining up trying to get possibly one of the hottest tickets in town. If you are one of the lucky few to secure the ticket to possibly one of the biggest cricket matches this year, congratulations. But before you head on over to the match on Sunday all giddy with excitement, here are a few things you need to know. Getting there As you can imagine, it's a full house. That is a whopping 25,000 cricket fans all descending to the Dubai Sports City stadium on one afternoon. Yikes! Save yourself the white-hair-inducing anxiety, and plan well in advance to get to the stadium on time so you can catch the whole match from the very first over. A very (very) important tip: Leave the car at home, unless you want the additional stress of finding a car parking space and dealing with the back-to-back traffic once the winner lifts the trophy. Secondly, sadly, there is no Dubai Metro connection, but… there is the official RTA bus. From Internet City, hop on board the F34 and make the 20-minute journey to the Dubai Cricket Stadium bus stop. From here, it's just a seven-minute walk to the venue. Buses will depart every 19 to 33 minutes, so don't stress if you miss one. From the Mall of the Emirates, hop on board the F37 bus and make the 35-minute journey to Dubai Cricket Stadium. From here, it is a little longer walk to the stadium, at about 20 minutes. The bus frequency is 20-30 minutes. Important tip: Ensure you have enough balance on your nol card before you depart. At the stadium Once you've reached the stadium safely, ensure you have your valid ticket on you at all times. No reentry will be allowed, and this is not the match to decide to leave the stadium and come back, because there will only be a few things that will be more important. All children above the age of three will require a ticket. Carry your little one's Emirates ID as proof of age. Gates open three hours before the match, giving you plenty of time. The match begins at 1pm. Other useful tips Carry sunglasses and a hat, and depending on how tolerant you are to the cool Dubai weather, carry a light jacket or a shawl. Leave the bottles of water and bites at home, as these will be discarded before you enter the stadium. There are food and beverage stands at the stadium. You can make your purchase with credit cards. Another thing to note: If your team wins, do not, under any circumstances, celebrate by using hazardous materials, fireworks, flares, laser pointers, or flammable substances to celebrate. Essentially, leave anything at home that can harm the lives of your fellow fans, the players, and officials. The Dubai Police will be involved, and you don't want to be 'that person' that ruined the fun. Here is a list of other prohibited items: No remote controlled devices, no flash photography, no power banks – so ensure your phone battery is 100% before you leave home, no radio communication devices, no selfie sticks; monopods or umbrealls; no sharp objects, no political flags and no bikes; skateboards or scooters. Smoking is also prohibited at the stadium. For social media users, here's something very important to note: You are not allowed to film the match and post it onto your social media. Either you will be stopped by security at the stadium (and most likely get your phone taken away), or your account will get flagged by Instagram. Instead, set the phones down and join with others to wave those flags and cheer for your team. How to watch the match if you don't have a ticket First of all, cheer up; there will be possible matches in the future. If you really want to watch the match and experience a slice of the electrifying atmosphere at the stadium, join one of the very many sports bars showing the match live. Not only will you get to watch the match, but there will be some cool food and drink deals you can snap up you. Here are a few options: Bedrock Bedrock Dubai at Pier 7 is the big kid playground. Live games take place on their 20 screens, and if you want it on the action, have a go at their state-of-the-art darts and their well-known indoor golfing area – 'The Bunker'. Best of all, this is one of the sports bars in Dubai that will be streaming both the F1 and the footie across their many screens. Bedrock Pier 7, Marina, Sun to Thur 12pm to 12am, Fri to Sat 12pm to 2am, Tel: (0)4 578 1668 @bedrockdxb The Huddle This popular sports bar in Old Dubai offers a buy one get one free on pints from Monday to Thursday from 12pm to 9pm. Just show this voucher to the staff to redeem. The Huddle Sports Bar & Grill, Citymax Hotel Bur Dubai, Dubai, voucher avail until Aug 31, Tel: (0)50 100 7065. The Irish Village This iconic venue that has been around for as long as most can remember. Irish Village in Al Garhoud has been open and thriving since 1996. From Monday to Thursday from 11am to 5pm, enjoy wines, spirits and bottled beers for just Dhs35. The Irish Village, Al Garhoud, happy hour runs from Mon to Thurs aam to 5pm. Tel: (0) 4 282 4750 Estrellas Rooftop Lounge Over the summer you can enjoy happy hour on Estrellas air-conditioned rooftop with 50 per cent discount on delicious sips to further cool you down. Feeling peckish? The half-off deal is available on food, too. Estrellas Rooftop Lounge, The Canvas Dubai Hotel, Port Rashid Road, happy hour runs daily 6pm to 9pm, Tel: (0)58 178 0325. @estrellasrooftopdubai Ok11 There's a live big screen at OK11 Sports Lounge that's ready for everyone to watch the match. So head down on Sunday to the Concorde Inn Hotel, opposite Dubai Museum and witness some incredible sportsmanship and talent. OK11 Sports Lounge, Concorde Inn Hotel @ok11sportslounge Buffalo Wings & Rings Buffalo Wings & Rings is dedicated to bringing you the best deals in town across its branches in JLT and DIFC. Not only are the meals and drinks delicious, but they're also pocket-friendly, so while you're watching any of your favourite sports, happy hour drinks deals and more make it the perfect spot to head to. DIFC – Level C, Liberty House, Tel: (0)50 247 1226/(0)4 359 6900, JLT- Lake Level, Cluster U, Tel: (0)50 961 8122/(0)4 321 6112. @buffalodubai TJ's A local watering hole for many in the JLT neighbourhood. At TJ's you're promised incredible vibes, and all your sports bar needs to be catered to. The laidback spot is perfect for a pint while watching the football, or catching up with friends after a long day at work. TJ's, Taj Hotel, Jumeirah Lake Towers, Al Thanyah, open Mon to Thu 11am to 12am and Fri to Sun 11am to 2am. Tel: (0) 4 574 1111 @ @icc
New York Times
30-01-2025
- New York Times
Death of a Paralympian: The tragedy of Abdullah Hayayei – and why his family need answers
When Abdullah Hayayei set off for London on July 5, 2017, it was too early in the morning to say goodbye to his family at home in the United Arab Emirates. They had moved into a new house in Mirbih, a coastal district of Fujairah, only a few days before and everyone needed the rest. He did not want to create a big scene. Advertisement Besides, the family had become accustomed to farewells — they thought it would not be long before Hayayei, a 36-year-old father of five, returned from his travels. This was the nature of life as an athlete, one that had seen him travel to Rio de Janeiro's Paralympics in 2016, where he reached the final of the javelin F34 and shot put F34 events, and which was now taking him to London for the World Para Athletics Championships. The plan was for Hayayei to spend eight days in the UK capital preparing for the event, and be away from home for just short of three weeks. Instead, within a fortnight, his repatriated body was being buried in Mirbih: Hayayei had been killed after a metal pole, attached to a throwing cage, fell on him during a training session at Newham Leisure Centre. His fame in the UAE was reflected by the enormous crowd at the cemetery — mourners had travelled from all over the country to pay their respects. Hayayei's death sparked a UK criminal investigation which lasted nearly seven and a half years. On Friday, UK Athletics (UKA) — the body which oversees the sport in the United Kingdom — and Keith Davies, the 77-year-old former head of sport at the 2017 World Para Athletics Championships, will appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court. UKA has been charged earlier this month with corporate manslaughter — it faces an unlimited fine if found guilty — and Davies with gross negligence manslaughter, a charge which carries a possible life prison sentence. Both have also been charged with a Health and Safety at Work Act offence. The consequences for Davies, UKA and the sport in Britain could be profound but, 3,500 miles away in Mirbih, the start of the trial offers hope for Hayayei's family that they could finally have closure. There, in the house he never really lived in, they all miss him greatly. His eldest son, Mohamed, was 14 when he last spoke to his father. Now 21, he recalls trying to call him on the day of his death but nobody answered. At the same time, on another line, his uncle Adam was receiving the dreadful news that Hayayei had been killed. Advertisement Hayayei's wife Badriya was the last person in the family to have contact with him, four and a half hours before he died. Hayayei told his wife about how excited he was at the prospect of competing at the Olympic Stadium, a couple of miles from where he was training in Newham. He wanted to finish the call by talking to Maria, his youngest daughter, but she was asleep and Badriya ended up sending her husband a photograph of the baby girl. Maria is nine now and she only remembers her father through fading images. Mirbih, a couple of hours drive through the barren mountains to the east of Dubai, is a small, neat town on a grid plan with only low-rise buildings. At one end of the tree-lined road where the Hayayei family live, there is a mosque calling afternoon prayers; the other offers views of the Indian Ocean. There is wealth here but it does not show like in other parts of the UAE. It is a quiet, calm place, with a strip of butchers, grills and laundrettes. People tend to be extremely humble and welcoming: foreign visitors are in short supply. The Hayayei home is fortified by tall walls and its cool living spaces have high ceilings. In the spacious front yard, there is a play area for the children. Abdullah was the seventh of nine siblings — six boys and three girls. Rashid, the head of the family, was Abdullah's older brother by 14 years but he describes their relationship as close. Tragedy stalked Abdullah throughout his short life. His father died when he was three and, aged 21, he suffered serious injuries in an accident which had remarkable parallels to the one that would end it 16 years later. Abdullah, who always loved the outdoor life, had dreamt of becoming a paratrooper and volunteered to join the military after leaving school. 'He was very excited about the future,' Rashid tells The Athletic, through a translator. 'He would sign up for training missions. He realised the missions were an opportunity to earn more money and get promoted quicker. He was willing to learn.' Those plans were destroyed when he was struck on the head by a metal rod connected to a parachute during a training exercise. Abdullah was lucky to be alive but his injuries affected the right side of his body, requiring operations to correct nerve damage to his neck, and subsequently problems with his hand, arm and leg. He spent a year recovering in Germany but he was left disabled. Advertisement Though Abdullah was placed on a full pension by the military, he was essentially retired and Rashid was concerned about his brother's mental health. Still a young man, a life which had promised so much suddenly appeared to lack purpose. 'But Abdullah was determined to make something of himself,' Rashid says. 'He was a young person with a lot of energy. It had to have somewhere to go. He had to let it out.' Though his favourite sport was swimming, as soon as he joined the Khor Fakkan sports club, a 15-minute drive north from Mirbih, he became 'obsessed' with throwing. The facilities at Khor Fakkan, located in an exclave of Sharjah, were good and the coaching excellent, offering Abdullah the opportunity to thrive. 'Sport became his absolute focus,' Rashid adds. 'Sometimes able-bodied athletes have other distractions but outside of his family life, Abdullah put everything into his training, especially his upper-body strength.' His achievements in national competition led to opportunities abroad. After returning from an international athletics meeting in Marrakech in 2009 with a gold medal, he was invited to meet the country's future president (then vice) Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan at his palace. After silver and bronze medals at subsequent events in other countries, the ruler of Sharjah, Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, increased funding for para athletes. 'Abdullah's success helped make a lot of people with disabilities feel like they were an important part of the community in the UAE,' says Rashid. At the Rio Olympics in 2016, his F34 class included competitors with moderate to severe hypertonia (extreme muscle tone, resulting in stiffness or rigidity) in both legs, as well as significant difficulties in standing, balancing and walking. He would place seventh in the shot put final and sixth in the javelin. It was his first taste of the Olympics and he was confident of doing better in Tokyo four years later. His younger brother Adam speaks of Abdullah's 'continuous journey of perseverance towards excellence'. 'We were very proud of him,' he adds. Whenever he travelled abroad, the family remained in Mirbih, watching him compete on television or YouTube. In early 2017, he brought home bronze and silver medals from the West Asian Games in Turkmenistan. Rashid, who retired from the UAE police in 2024 after 35 years' service, says his brother viewed London as a dry run for Tokyo, and had allowed extra time in London so he could 'get used to the city, the stadium, and the people'. Advertisement 'As soon as prayer was done,' Rashid continues, 'he dedicated himself to his preparation. He went to the Olympic Stadium just to look at it and imagine himself competing. He was very excited, very optimistic about his chances. He always used to say, 'If you wear a vest with your country's flag on it, you have to fight for it. Otherwise you shouldn't wear it.' He was always going for gold.' That opportunity did not arrive. Six days later, Adam received an evening phone call from the UAE athletics committee, telling him about what had happened at Newham. He informed his brothers straight away, but before he was able to figure out how to deal with his immediate family, the news appeared on social media, spreading into WhatsApp groups. This led to a mourner arriving at the door of the family's new home. According to both Rashid and Adam, Abdullah was their mother's favourite son because of his positive outlook towards life. After hearing about his death, Moza collapsed, suffering a stroke which left her in hospital for a fortnight. The sense of disbelief was particularly acute with his sons, especially 14-year-old Mohamed. He holds onto a conversation he had with his father only a day before his death. He was used to taking responsibility because when his father was away, he was dependent on him to fix things around the house and sometimes make decisions alone. 'He wanted me to reduce the headache on the family by taking care of them,' Mohamed says. On this occasion, there was an issue with a heater. The house was new to Mohamed and he did not know his way around it. 'So I called my dad up and asked for advice before fixing it myself. The next day, after Isha prayers, at 7pm or 8pm, I found out that he'd passed away. I didn't believe it. I was like, 'Come on, there must be a mistake — maybe there's a similarity in names with someone else'. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case.' The family's shock was mirrored in London. There was a statement from the International Paralympic Committee, expressing devastation at Abdullah's death, while Ed Warner, the co-chairman of London 2017, insisted the organisers would 'offer support wherever it is needed'. Following a period of silence at the opening ceremony three days after his death, the competition proceeded as planned. Given what will happen in a Westminster court room at the end of this week, Hayayei's family are understandably reluctant to be drawn too far into their impressions about the causes of Abdullah's death as well as the reactions of the authorities. There is, though, a quiet determination for the truth to be revealed, and gratitude to the UK legal system for pursuing the case. Advertisement 'They have been sharing detailed and regular updates with us regarding the progress and developments of the investigation,' Adam explains. 'The investigation teams have consistently responded to all our inquiries with cooperation and thoroughness. 'Communication with them is ongoing and they continue to update us on the case's progress as new developments arise. We would like to take this opportunity to thank the various British police teams for their cooperation and dedication in seeking justice for my brother Abdullah.' In Mirbih, they will be waiting for news. While the impact of Hayayei's death has been felt emotionally, it has also invited financial challenges for the family, which still receives his pension, albeit on reduced terms. Aside from Mohamed, the Paralympian left behind Hassan (aged 16), as well as three daughters, Hawa (20), Hoor (14) and, of course, nine-year-old Maria. She is able to talk now — a spirited and cheerful little girl. But she will never know the father who so desperately wanted to say goodnight from the other side of the world seven and a half years ago. 'At the end of the day it's God's will,' reflects Rashid. 'However, if something was wrong about the circumstances of Abdullah's death, as a family we have the right to know about that.' (Top image: photos via the Hayayei family; design: Eamonn Dalton)
