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 yesterday 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.'

On behalf of HH Sheikha Fatima, Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak, Sheikha Maytha bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dr. Maytha Al Shamsi, Ali Salem Al Kaabi, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the FDF and deputy chairman of the award's higher organising committee and Noura Al Suwaidi, Director-General of the GWU, honoured the winners.

Winners of the second cycle are : First: The Individual Level Excellent Women Athlete (heavy lifting): Sara Samir Al Sayed of Egypt Excellent Women Athlete (athletics): Seham Masoud Al Rashidi of UAE Excellent Women Coach: Kanza Ahmed Al Zaytouni of Tunisia Excellent Women Media Presenter: Amal Mohammed Ismail of Yemen Excellent Women Sporting Administrator: Amal Hassan Bushalakh of UAE Each winner got a cash prize of Dh 200,000, award shield and certificate of appreciation sealed by the award patron, HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak.

Second: Foundations and Unions Level Excellent Media Work in Women's Sports: Bint Al Khaleej Magazine of Dar al Sada Press, Printing, and Publishing of UAE The Development of Junior: General Organisation for Youth and Sports of Bahrain The Development of National Teams: International Petroleum Investment Company (IPIC) of UAE Effective Participation: Armed Forces of Egypt Each winner of this category received a cash prize of Dh 100,000, award shield and certificate of appreciation sealed by the award patron, HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak.

Olympic rider Sheikha Latifa bint Ahmed Al Maktoum was named sports personality of the year at the local level, while the international title went to the late Moroccan runner, Fatima Aouam won.

Sponsors of the award were also honoured during the ceremony.
Source: WAM