Mansour bin Zayed attends the ceremony honoring the sports achievers of 2017

On the initiative of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, witnessed the celebration of the UAE sports family to honor the sports achievers of 2017 held today at the Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi.

During the ceremony, HE Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance, was honored as the sport personality of 2017, in addition to 541 athletes representing 28 sports federations.

The ceremony was held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, HE Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance, HE Ahmed Jumaa Al Zaabi, Deputy Minister of Presidential Affairs, HE Husain bin Ibrahim Al Hammadi, Minister of Education and HE Dr. Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of State and Chief Executive Officer of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) and its group of companies, HE Major General Mohammed Khalfan Al Rumaithi, Commander-in-Chief of Abu Dhabi Police, Chairman of the General Authority for Sports, board members of the Authority and heads of unions and sport federations. The selection of His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance as the sport personality of the year 2017 was done as a recognition for his various contribution during his tenure as chairman of the General Authority for Youth and Sports Welfare, which witnessed significant progress and development thanks to his guidance and initiatives in support of national sport federations and clubs, in addition to widening the base of the people practicing sports, building of sport and youth facilities and achieve great athletic achievements.

His Excellency Major General Mohammed Khalfan Al-Rumaithi affirmed that the 12th session of the ceremony honoring the sports achievers reflects the keenness of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, on the superiority of his athletes and their excellence and reflects his vision and great interest in the sport march in the country. In his speech during the ceremony, His Excellency said "all thanks and appreciation to His Highness for His Highness's unlimited support for sports and athletes, and this good initiative that stimulates the deeds and inspires them."

He thanked also in his speech HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and their brothers, For their support to the sport sector in the country and their continuous efforts to develop this sector and improve it for the better.

He also thanked His Highness Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan for his keenness to sponsor the winners and his support for all initiatives aimed at achieving good and development in this beloved country.

"The annual ceremony has become a renewed occasion in which we celebrate sport achievements and cherish with pride the winners of the high honor Prize," he said. Expressing his pride that the sport arena celebrations, continues to be held for the 12th consecutive year.

His Excellency also expressed his pride in the support and attention of His Highness Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan for the UAE sport, which gave it a prominent place in the list of achievements and put it on the map of tournaments throughout his presidency of the General Authority for Youth Welfare and Sports during the past years. Al Nahyan deservedly deserved the title of Sport Personality of the year in this festive wedding.

His Excellency pointed out that the celebration today came with the achievement of 540 medals, in which gold had a large shre in it, gold, which was achieved by the efforts of 541 Emirati heroes belonging to 28 sports unions. Congratulating the athletes for the achievements they have accomplished, the best witness to their love and belonging to this generous country

His Excellency said that this great achievement and the remarkable achievements of the UAE sport have become a source for the heroes' industry, accompanied by the establishment of the Fund for the Care of Talented Athletes, which aims to create distinguished partnerships with all the sport bodies concerned in accordance with international best practices. He added that "we look forward to the celebration of the adoption of the regulations of the categories under the guidance of His Highness the President of the State to allow the children of citizens and residents of the country and those born in the country to participate in sports competitions."

His Excellency Major General Mohammed Khalfan Al-Rumaithi expressed his thanks and appreciation to the presidents and members of the boards of directors of the sports federations for all their efforts and exertions to achieve the achievements and raise the flag of the nation in various forums and sports entitlements as well as all those in charge of sport media in the State, praising their efforts in covering Sporting events and dealing with them with transparency and credibility.

He also congratulated all those honored, saying, "Congratulations to all of you Zayed's children in Zayed Year and the land of Zayed with this initiative and these achievements."

HH Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs honored the Sponsors of the Sports Talent Fund. The list included Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) represented by HE Dr. Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of State and Chief Executive Officer of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company ADNOC and its group of companies.

Also honored were Abu Dhabi Cooperative Society, represented by HE Saeed Eid Al Ghafli, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Al Waha Capital represented by HE Shaikh Ghanim Al Dhahri, Dolphin Energy represented by HE Adel Ahmed Al Buainain, CEO and The General Holding Company, Industries, represented by HE Eng. Jamal Salem Al Dhahri, HE Dr. Sulaiman Rashed Al Nuaimi, Chief Executive Officer of the Government Sector and National Marine Dredging Company, represented by HE Mohammed Thani Al Rumaithi, Chairman of the Board.

The list of sponsors of the Sports Talents Fund included the Board of Economic Equivalents, represented by HE Tariq Abdul Rahim Al Hosani, Chief Executive Officer, Airports of Abu Dhabi represented by HE Abdul Majid Mohammed Al Khouri, Acting CEO, Bainouna Al Gharbia Group for General Contracting represented by HE Mohammed Khalfan Al Hamli, Chairman of the Board in addition to Ali Saeed Bin Harmal Al Dhahri represented by HE Suhail Saeed Bin Harmal Al Dhaheri, HSBC Bank represented by HE Abdul Fattah Sharaf, CEO and Emirates Telecommunications Corporation, represented by His Excellency Sultan Al Dhahiri, General Manager of Abu Dhabi area, Al Dar Real Estate represented by HE Mr. Fahad Al Kutbi, Executive Vice President and Lulu Center represented by HE Mr. Yousuf Ali, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Ahmed Seddiqi Group, represented by His Excellency Mr. Mohammed Abdul Hameed Siddiqui and Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, represented by HE Alaa Erekat, CEO and Member of the Board of Directors.

The list of honored sponsors also included Al Hilal Bank, represented by HE Khalaf Abdullah Al Hammadi, Vice Chairman, Al Qudra Holding Company represented by HE Khalifa Yousuf Khoury, Vice Chairman, Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company du, represented by HE Osman Sultan, CEO, Business man HE Abdul Jalil Abdul Rahman Al-Baluki, represented by HE Mr. Mohammed Abdul Jalil Al-Baluki, Al Mas’ood Group of Co. represented by His Excellency Masood Rhama Al Masoud, Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Foundation for Charitable and Humanitarian Works represented by HE Hamad Salim Bin Kirdous Al Ameri, General Manager, Al Baraka Int’l for Investment represented by HESaeed Bin Omair Bin Yousif Chairman of the Board of Directors, Abaril Group and Omair Travel Agency represented by His Excellency Abdullah Bin Omair Executive Director and Businessman HE Abdul Hamid Abdul Rahman Mohammed Al Khouri, Mohammed Rasul Khoury & Sons represented by His Excellency Yousif Mohammed Rasool Al Khouri Executive Chairman and Businessman HE Mohammed Abdul Jalil Al Fahim And HE Mohamed Hussein Al Khouri.

His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan also honored the sports bidders: HE Mr. Mohamed Ali Al Kamali, HE Ahmed Nasser Al Fardan, HE Dr. Ahmed Al Sayed Al Hashimi and Mohammed Khalifa Belhoul. He also honored the families of those who lost their parents, the late Abdullah Hassan Rashid Hayayi and the late Sheikha Ali Mohammed Khalfan Al Naqbi.

The list of honored also included sport achievers, UAE Sports Federation for the handy capped , the Emirates Shooting Federation, the Federation of Higher Education Institutions, the UAE Athletics Federation, the UAE Rugby Federation, the UAE Sailing Federation, the UAE School Sports Federation, the UAE Marine Sports Federation, the Emirates Volleyball Federation, the UAE Wrestling Federation, And the Emirates Ice Sports Federation.

The UAE Jujitsu Federation, the UAE Cycling Federation, the UAE Chess Federation, the UAE Fencing Federation, the UAE Air Sports Federation, Emirates Motor Sport Federation, Emirates Billiards and Snooker Association, UAE Karate Federation, UAE Police Sports Federation, Emirates Bodybuilding Federation, UAE Swimming Association, Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Festival for Arabian Horses, Emirates Golf Federation, Emirates Mwai Tai, Kickboxing Federation, Emirates Tennis Federation, Emirates Backgammon Federation and Emirates Boxing Federation.

Honored at the ceremony was also Abdulla Ahmad Ali Al Hammadi “Int’l. Fencing Referee” Abdulla Murad Al-Mazmi, "International Chess Referee", Majed Sultan Ali Ibrahim Al Mansouri, "International Fencing Referee" and Fatima Abdul Hamid Mohammed Saleh, "International Referee of Ice Sports