Latest news with #HigherOrganizingCommittee
Gulf Today
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Gulf Today
Diamond Gem AA sparkles in UAE President's Cup at Pimlico
Diamond Gem AA clinched the title in the US leg of the 32nd edition of the UAE President's Cup for Purebred Arabian Horses, held on Saturday at the historic Pimlico Racecourse in Baltimore, Maryland. The race took place as part of the 150th edition of the Preakness Stakes, one of the most iconic events in American thoroughbred racing. Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President of the UAE, Deputy Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Presidential Court, the UAE President's Cup Series reinforces the UAE's commitment to the global development of Arabian horse racing and the continued support of breeders and owners around the world. The initiative aims to preserve the rich heritage of the Arabian horse and elevate its presence on the international stage. This year's US race saw a strong global turnout with a crowd of over 100,000 spectators and wide-reaching American media coverage, further cementing the President's Cup's legacy and reputation as one of the leading platforms for Arabian horse racing. The event featured 14 races as part of the prestigious Preakness Stakes day, a pillar of the American Triple Crown series. Diamond Gem AA emerged victorious in the US leg of the President's Cup Series for Purebred Arabian Horses, delivering a powerful stretch run to clinch first place in commanding fashion. Bred from Burning Sand and Tramaasah (by Sevilla Tryst), Diamond Gem AA is owned by Joseph and Betty Gillis, trained by Jerenesto Torrez, and was ridden to victory by jockey Carol Cedeno. The colt displayed tactical patience early on before confidently surging ahead in the final stretch to outpace a competitive field. Finishing second was RB Grand Slam, another trainee of Jerenesto Torrez, owned by Rosebrook Farm LLC. Bred from Majd Al Arab and Rich Kinkga (by TH Richie), the horse was piloted by Inardis Rodriguez, who kept close pressure throughout the race but couldn't match the winner's late pace. AA Take A Chance claimed third place honors, completing the podium for the day. Trained by Rhonda Tuley and owned by Annette M. Lindstrom, the horse is by Baseq Al Khalediah out of Maamoureh (by Amer), and was ridden by Xavier Perez. The 1700m dirt race, classified as a Grade 1 event for horses aged four years and above, offered a total purse of $200,000. Diamond Gem AA completed the race in a time of 1:57.01, reclaiming the title he had previously won in 2023. The award ceremony was attended by Omar Al Yahyai, member of the diplomatic corps, and Rawdha Al Mansoori from the UAE Embassy in Washington, along with Saeed Al Muhairi, representative of the Higher Organizing Committee of the UAE President's Cup Series, who presented trophies to the winning connections. Meanwhile, pre-race favourite Journalism stormed to victory in the 150th Preakness Stakes, producing a devastating finish to claim the second leg of US horse racing's Triple Crown. Journalism, ridden by Italian jockey Umberto Rispoli, looked set for more disappointment following his second-place finish in the Kentucky Derby after being boxed in coming down the stretch at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. But after clashing with the Bob Baffert-trained 6-1 shot Goal Oriented, Journalism burst through a gap and reeled in 20-1 outsider Gosger to claim a sensational win. Gosger and 4-1 shot Sandman finished second and third respectively. There was a brief delay as stewards reviewed footage of Journalism's skirmish with Goal Oriented before the Michael McCarthy-trained horse was confirmed as the victor. The 36-year-old Rispoli, the two-time Italian Champion Jockey, said the victory owed everything to Journalism's never say die approach. 'I still can't realize what this horse did today,' an emotional Rispoli said moments after crossing the line. 'I got in trouble at the corner pole. But it's all about him -- it's a pleasure and a privilege to ride a horse like him. 'It's just unbelievable. I won one of the legs of the Triple Crown and I'm crying like a kid.'
Gulf Today
21-03-2025
- Business
- Gulf Today
32nd edition of UAE President's Cup Series for Purebred Arabian Horses to begin on April 20
Gulf Today, Staff Reporter Directed by His Highness Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President and Deputy Prime Minister of the UAE and President of the Presidential Court, the Higher Organizing Committee has announced the agenda for the 32nd edition of the UAE President's Cup Series for Purebred Arabian Horses for 2025. With a total prize pool of more than Dhs15 million, this edition's prizes are the largest and most valuable in the history of Arabian horse racing. The new agenda includes 17 races across 10 European venues, including Russia and Turkey, along with 5 Arab venues, and one each in the US and Great Britain. The series kicks off in Tunisia on April 20 with prizes of 500,000 Tunisian Dinars, followed by Morocco on April 26 with prizes of 250,000 Euros, and then France on May 11 with 350,000 Euros, moving to the United States on May 17 with a prize of $200,000. The Italian leg on May 18 offers 300,000 Euros, followed by Sweden on June 6 with 100,000 Euros, Germany on July 6 with 250,000 Euros, the Netherlands on August 3 with 100,000 Euros, Spain on August 15 with 200,000 Euros, Russia on August 30 with $100,000, Belgium on September 2 with 200,000 Euros, Turkey on September 7 with $250,000, England on September 13 with £400,000, Poland on September 28 with 200,000 Euros, Egypt on October 25 with Dhs500,000, Libya on October 26 with Dhs1 million, and Saudi Arabia on November 21 with 1.5 million. Matar Al Yabhouni Al Dhaheri, Chairman of the Higher Organizing Committee, expressed gratitude for the wise leadership of Sheikh Mansour, appreciating his generous support and continuous care that lead the UAE President's Cup to become the most prestigious in the history of Arabian horse racing. He said, "We express our gratitude to the wise leadership on the announcement of the 2025 agenda for the UAE President's Cup, appreciating their boundless support for this esteemed event in its 32nd edition, which spans 17 countries. 'This progress each year is a direct result of the generous care from the leadership and their significant interest in advancing the race series to the highest global standards, serving the UAE's mission to support the broadest community of Arabian horse owners and breeders worldwide." Faisal Al Rahmani, Secretary-General of the UAE President's Cup Series, remarked, "I am pleased on this occasion to extend the highest expressions of gratitude and appreciation to His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President and Deputy Prime Minister of the UAE and President of the Presidential Court, for his substantial endowment and pioneering role leading our series to the highest international ranks, and for his significant interest in encouraging owners and breeders to elevate the status of Arabian horses." Adding, "The 32nd edition will be the grandest and most valuable in the history of global Arabian horse racing, confirming that His Highness's generous support has achieved an advanced status for the UAE President's Cup, making it a gateway for champions and one of the major global races." Al Rahmani continued, "We value His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed's generous gesture towards the UAE President's Cup with its new prizes, representing a historic turn and a qualitative leap in the history of Arabian horse racing, elevating it to broad and grand horizons, making it the strongest and most valuable race series in the world since its inception." He concluded, "We take pride and boast to the world about our race series, which holds a dear name to all of us and now stands at the forefront of the major global races by the value of its prizes since the beginning of the era of Arabian horse racing, representing an important gain and a motivating source for owners and Arabian horse stables worldwide to participate with the elite champion horses alongside the support provided for developing horse stables around the world. The UAE President's Cup contributes to offering exceptional opportunities for breeders, trainers, and jockeys to enhance their presence in the new era of the Arabian horse system in its prestigious and advanced form." Al Rahmani extended congratulations to the Arabian horse community, associations, tracks, and elite stables of horse owners around the world on the launch of the new edition, thanking them all for their cooperation each year, and wishing for a successful and distinctive racing season.
Arab Times
13-02-2025
- Science
- Arab Times
Kuwait Hackathon 2024 honors promising youth projects in digital innovation
KUWAIT CITY, Feb 13: Bassam Al-Shammari, Chairman of the Higher Organizing Committee for His Highness Sheikh Salem Al-Ali Al-Sabah Informatics Award, emphasized the importance of fostering innovation in Kuwait and boosting the country's ranking on the global innovation index. His comments came following the honoring of the winners of the second edition of the "Kuwait Hackathon" competition, launched as part of the 24th session of the award for 2024. In a statement to Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) on Thursday, Al-Shammari explained that the competition this year brought together 15 participating entities working together to enhance the innovation ecosystem, a key objective of the award. He described the "Kuwait Hackathon" as an educational development platform designed to accelerate pioneering youth-led projects focused on digital innovation across various fields. Al-Shammari also noted that the competing projects predominantly focused on artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, a timely theme given the ongoing global digital transformation driven by AI advancements. He stressed the need for Kuwait to embrace this revolution, as AI has significant potential to improve quality of life and contribute to societal well-being. During the ceremony honoring the winners, held by the Governor of the Capital, Sheikh Abdullah Salem Al-Ali Al-Sabah, several top projects were recognized. The first-place winner was the "Water Monitoring Device" project, which measures water quality, assesses the health of aquatic organisms, and facilitates early detection of potential risks. The second and third places went to the "Air Conditioning" project, which regulates air distribution based on room temperature, and the "Smart Systems" project, designed to manage water tanks and determine when they need refilling. In addition, the Governor honored several outstanding projects, including the "Smart Pharmacy" project, which allows for remote dispensing of medication through a smart device, and the "Purity and Purity" application, which helps combat environmental waste by allowing users to report cleanliness and earn rewards for their environmental contributions. Other notable projects included the "Tailor" app, connecting customers with tailors for customized orders, and the "Food Allergy Detection" mobile app, which scans product barcodes to identify potential allergens. Al-Shammari expressed his satisfaction with the enthusiasm and reactions of the winners, who showed great promise with their innovative projects. He remarked that these projects have the potential to evolve into real businesses and create new opportunities in the future. The "Kuwait Hackathon," launched for the second time by the Sheikh Salem Al-Ali Al-Sabah Informatics Award, provides a platform for young innovators to showcase their digital transformation ideas. It aims to develop the technical capabilities of young people and entrepreneurs, motivating them to create digital inventions that enhance the environment for digital innovation and entrepreneurship in Kuwait.
Gulf Today
06-02-2025
- Sport
- Gulf Today
Badminton and shooting added to NAS Sports Tournament roster
Gulf Today, Staff Reporter The Higher Organizing Committee of NAS Sports Tournament has ratified the programme of the various competitions of the 12th edition of the Tournament. NAS Sports Tournament will be held under the patronage of Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, the Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense of the UAE, and organized as per the directives of Sheikh Mansoor Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, the Chairman of Dubai Sports Council. NAS Sports Tournament is the biggest of its kind and the most eminent community sports event that takes place at Nad Al-Sheba Sports Complex during the Holy Month of Ramadan. Participants in the 12th edition of the Tournament will compete in 11 disciplines including volleyball, padel, jujitsu, fencing, wheelchair basketball, running, cycling, tug of war, obstacle challenge. The two competitions added to the tournament are badminton and shooting. The tournament aims to provide a comprehensive sports platform that brings together athletes in various sports, comprising people of determination, and different classes of society, allowing them all to enjoy unique opportunity to exercise sports during the Holy Month of Ramadan in distinctive & competitive atmospheres that enhance the spirit of interaction & positivity and cement the concept of sport as a way of life. Hassan Al Mazrouei, the Tournament's Manager, emphasized the Organizing Committee's keenness to select sports competitions that conform to the promising sports and community goals, set by Sheikh Hamdan, and overseen by Sheikh Mansoor. He explained that over the past 11 editions, the tournament has contributed to the development of several sports games, and it has also presented various competitions that enriched the sports sector and contributed to the enhancement of the status of various sports & competitions, which are followed by fans in UAE and overseas, and held with distinctive participation of elite of the best ranked global athletes. He added that the increase in the number of sports competitions and the attracting of further amateurs and professionals to participate in the tournament reflect the eminent & growing role of the event in supporting the sports sector and boosting Dubai's sports community. 'These factors also confirm the annual dramatic increase in the numbers of events & participants, as the Tournament has witnessed, throughout the last versions, remarkable participation of 51 thousand amateur and professional athletes from UAE and overseas who competed in 88 competitions of various sports. He remarked: "We are pleased to raise the number of sports in the 12th edition of the Tournament into 11 sports, including many Olympic and popular sports. The Organizing Committee is keen to add Olympic games with international participation, providing players with valuable opportunities to compete versus international athletes and acquire new experiences. We will soon extend invitations to athletes and teams to participate in the various competitions of the tournament."
Al Bawaba
05-02-2025
- Sport
- Al Bawaba
NAS Sports Tournament adds New Olympic & Popular Sports Competitions to the 12th Edition of the Tournament
The Higher Organizing Committee of NAS Sports Tournament has ratified the program of the various competitions of the 12th edition of the Tournament, which is held under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, the Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister & Minister of Defense of the UAE, and organized as per the Directives of H.H. Sheikh Mansoor Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, the Chairman of Dubai Sports Council. NAS Sports Tournament is the biggest of its kind & the most eminent community sports event that takes place at Nad Al-Sheba Sports Complex during the Holy Month of Ramadan. Participants in the 12th edition of the Tournament will compete in 11 sports games; these are: volleyball, padel, jujitsu, fencing, wheelchair basketball, running, cycling, tug of war, obstacle challenge, in addition to other two competitions added recently to these are: badminton & shooting. The Tournament aims to provide a comprehensive sports platform that brings together athletes in various sports, comprising people of determination, and different classes of society, allowing them all to enjoy unique opportunity to exercise sports during the Holy Month of Ramadan in distinctive & competitive atmospheres that enhance the spirit of interaction & positivity and cement the concept of sport as a way of life. Mr. Hassan Al-Mazrouei, the Tournament's Manager, emphasized the Organizing Committee's keenness to select sports competitions that conform to the promising sports and community goals, set by H.H. Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and overseen by H.H. Sheikh Mansoor Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum. He explained that over the past 11 editions, the Tournament has contributed to the development of several sports games, and it has also presented various competitions that enriched the sports sector and contributed to the enhancement of the status of various sports & competitions, which are followed by fans in UAE & overseas, and held with distinctive participation of elite of the best ranked global athletes. He added that the increase in the number of sports competitions and the attracting of further amateurs & professionals to participate in the Tournament reflect the eminent & growing role of the event in supporting the sports sector & boosting Dubai's sports community. These factors also confirm the annual dramatic increase in the numbers of events & participants, as the Tournament has witnessed, throughout the last versions, remarkable participation of 51 thousand amateur & professional athletes from UAE & overseas who competed in 88 competitions of various sports. He remarked: "We are pleased to raise the number of sports in the 12th edition of the Tournament into 11 sports, including many Olympic and popular sports. The Organizing Committee is keen to add Olympic games with international participations, providing players with valuable opportunities to compete vs. international athletes and acquire new experiences. We will soon extend invitations to athletes and teams to participate in the various competitions of the Tournament. Details of registration & mechanisms of participation will all be announced during the upcoming days".
