AWST 2014 reaffirms players' safety

The Safety and Security Committee of the second Arab Women Sports Tournament (AWST 2014) during its meeting has reaffirmed players' safety as top priority during the tournament from Feb 2-12 in Sharjah. Organised by the Women Sports Department at Sharjah Ladies Club, the tournament is being held under the gracious patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher Bint Mohammed Al Qassimi, Chairperson of the Supreme Council for Family affairs, and Chairperson of the Sharjah Ladies Club, wife of ruler of Sharjah. The Committee meeting was chaired by Nada Al Naqbi, Head of the Executive Committee and Manager of AWST, and attended by Lieutenant Colonel Abdulaziz AL Numan, Head of the Safety and Security Committee, Dr. Ibraheem Al Sakkar, Head of the Technical Committee, Dr. Rajaa Al Kaabi, Member of the Ceremony and Coronation Committee, Awatif Al Halabi, Coordinator of the Technical Committee, Youssef Abdulkareem of the Ceremony and Coronation Committee, and Technical Coordinator in the United Arab Emirates Association for archery Ali Jasim, Adnan Alshamesi, Ali Al Ameri, Reham Mahmoud, and Nada Al Kasir, in addition to Ahmad Al Suweidi, Artistic Director of volleyball Federation in UAE. Nada Al Naqbi, Head of the Executive Committee and Manager of AWST said: "Roles played the various AWST committees are interrelated and integral to the success of AWST 2014. Cooperation is the main theme in all that we do, which we are confident will lead to the success we all are hoping for." Lieutenant Colonel Abdulaziz AL Numan, Head of the Safety and Security Committee, praised the preparations and efforts exerted by all committees, reaffirming the importance of cooperation and coordination between all stakeholders, in accordance with the detailed schedule and timeline for the different activities in the Tournament, thus achieving the highest safety and security standards during the event. AL Numan highlighted the Committee's commitment to assuring players' safety and security, which lead to developing a comprehensive plan to provide safety and security services to over 1000 people during AWST 2014, including VIPs, delegation members, players, and other participants such as medical and media personnel, in a manner that guarantees success in this mission. He also explained that backup forces will be instantly available when required, whether in traffic control, rescue and emergency, VIP protection, accommodations and sports facility security, or any other situations that require intervention, with ambulances and civil defence squads available at accommodations locations and all involved sports facilities at all times. Al Numan also explained that special arrangements are in place for certain games, such as shooting and archery, as Olympic air guns and air pistols will be considered firearms, subject to the same security arrangements imposed by competent authorities, including setting strict times for training, which will be the exact same schedule for formal competitions, with one day separating them. The arrangements will also mandate the presence of supervisors during all relevant activities, thus securing the safety of all participants and spectators. In more detail, Al Numan went through safety arrangements, explaining that fully equipped medical teams will be on hand in all locations hosting training or formal activities, with specialised physicians and doctors with extensive experience in injuries related to each game in the Tournament. In a related development, the AWST 2014 Technical Follow-Up Committee held its sixth meeting, in the presence of Dr Ibraheem Al Sakkar, Head of the Technical Committee, Awatif Al Halabi, Coordinator of Technical Committee, and Technical Coordinator in the United Arab Emirates Association for archery Ali Jasim, Adnan Alshamesi, Member of technical Committe, Ali Al Ameri, Reham Mahmoud, and Nada Al Kasir, in addition to Ahmad Al Suweidi, Artistic Director of volleyball Federation in UAE. Source: WAM