H.H. Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women's Union,
GWU, Supreme President of the Family Development Foundation, FDF, and Head of
the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, affirmed today that her award
for woman athletes, in its second cycle, celebrates achievements scored by woman
in individual category and those of federal institutions.
'Each category complements the other; fosters and
develops talents, unlocks skills and hones and develops capacities. The award
honours, encourages and fosters innovation to make it an essence for
competition,'' Sheikha Fatima said in her speech at a grand ceremony held to
honour winners of the Sheikha Fatima Award for Woman Athletes (2014-2015) at the
Emirates Palace.
The award-giving ceremony was attended by Sheikh
Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture, Youth and Community
Development, Sheikha Maytha bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dr. Maytha bint
Salem Al Shamsi, Minister of State, Advisor to the Head of the Supreme Council
for Motherhood and Childhood, and member of the award's higher organising
committee and a crowd of officials and prominent sports and media
personalities.
''These sports achievements would not have been
possible without the support provided by President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa
bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai His
Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and the close follow up of His
Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and
Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, who inspired us and helped us
to pursue our approach out of our belief that innovation, creativity and
achievement are viable values that should always be appreciated and recognised.
Upholding these values will help woman sports to advance and prosper,'' Sheikha
Fatima said in her speech, which was read by Dr.
Maytha Al Shamsi.
''Our vision for the Award is to make woman a
leader in its field. It is a vision that needs planning, cooperation,
determination, perseverance and fair competition in different administrative,
sports, training, researches and patronage fields. We also want women with
disabilities to excel in these fields. This, of course, begins with honouring
creative and outstanding athletes who will always present role models, become
sources of celebration and serve as guide that can enable women athletes to
shine at regional and international championships,'' Sheikha Fatima
indicated.
''As the UAE sought to become the focus of the
world's attention in various development fields and to honour innovation, the
Award was launched to confirm that the development and progress in sports, in
general, and in woman sports, in particular, is a harvest of the seeds that
planted - over decades - by the late founding father, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al
Nahyan. The Award recognises the need for nurturing women innovators in the
sports and appreciating efforts made by institutions to advance woman sports,''
she added.
Sheikha Fatima congratulated the winners, urging
them to make more concerted efforts towards excellence. She also congratulated
the institutions that sponsor woman sports and called them to contribute in
efforts aimed at devising plans, and strategies, and conducting scientific
researches in order to develop individual capacities and skills and modernise
the woman sports sector.
Addressing the winners, HH said,'' As you win today the prizes you deserve,
we look forward to see you work continuously towards prominence and excellence
and present the finest role models and examples so that we can deliver the
aspired goal: sustainability.''
MENAFN - Emirates News Agency (WAM))