Two groups of four teams each compete at Gulf Extrusions sports grounds in Jebel Ali

August 31, 2010

Gulf Extrusions, one of the largest aluminium extrusion plants in the Gulf, has recently opened the 2nd Gulf Extrusions Ramadan Football Tournament 2010 at the Gulf Extrusions sports grounds in Jebel Ali. The tournament has been organised as part of activities to celebrate the Holy Month of Ramadan, while providing employees of different aluminium companies an opportunity to enjoy sports and foster camaraderie.

Eight teams divided into two groups are competing in the tournament. Each group will play in a round-robin format over a period of seven days, with the top two teams in each group advancing to the crossover knockout semifinals. The winning teams in the semifinals play each other in the finals to be held on September 02, 2010.

Marwan Al Zaubi, HR and Finance Manager, Gulf Extrusions, said, “The inaugural Ramadan Football Tournament received a very positive response, prompting us to organise the event for the second consecutive year. Gulf Extrusions’ decision to hold this tournament also underlines the company’s strong commitment to promote the welfare of employees through various social activities. Moreover, organising sports events is an excellent way to celebrate Ramadan as it helps promote positive values such as team work, fairness and diligence, which are the same qualities we want to inculcate among our employees.”

The champion team, runners-up and special awardees of the tournament will receive various prizes from Gulf Extrusions. The participating teams are Dubai P, Technical Glass & Aluminum Co., Petra Gulf LLC and Al Ghurair Construction Co. in Group A; and Gulf Extrusions, Schuco Middle East Windows & Façade Systems LLC, Jotun Power Coatings and Gulf Agency Co. in Group B.

ICLDC's annual football tournament at ADNEC

Abu Dhabi, 29 August 2010: With outdoor temperatures soaring, the air conditioned halls at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre have proved a safe haven for sports enthusiasts this summer. 

Capitalising on the outstanding infrastructure for events available at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), the annual PLAY SPORTS! Live Healthily Ramadan Football Tournament, was held indoors for the very first time last week, with matches played on specially prepared pitches in Halls 8 & 9.

“ADNEC has among the best facilities available for such events in Abu Dhabi. Despite the heat of summer, we are glad to have been able to conduct our annual football tournament at this time. ICLDC has had another opportunity to drive home our message; no matter what the season, it is absolutely imperative to raise public awareness year-round on the role of physical activity in maintaining a healthy lifestyle,” said Carol Sansour, Marketing & Communications Manager, Imperial College London Diabetes Centre, the organisers of the tournament. .

“ICLDC’s annual inter-corporate football tournament has already become an important fixture during Ramadan in Abu Dhabi and ADNEC is pleased to have played our part this time around in setting the stage for this key ICLDC initiative,” said Humaid Al Dhaheri, ADNEC’s Director of Finance and Human Resources.

In two weeks from now, the ADNEC halls will once again host another sporting- related endeavour – an indoor charity run over 12 hours organised by Aloft Hotel during which runners will raise money for Starwood’s Road to Awareness charity initiative in support of UNICEF.

“Throughout summer, there are clearly many sporting activities that can be undertaken at indoor venues such as ours. ADNEC is seeing an increasing requirement from event organisers for use of our facilities during the summer months and we look forward to working with a range of organisations in providing the setting for a variety of indoor sporting events in years to come,” added Al Dhaheri.

Etisalat’s F1×3 offer is back for the second year to give customers the opportunity to experience speed, adrenaline rush and excitement through live racing experience in an F1×3 car

Abu Dhabi, 07 Aug. 10: Etisalat has returned the second year with its F1×3 promotion, offering motorsport fans a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to win a live racing experience. F1×3, Etisalat’s unique promotion for speed enthusiasts, gives its customers the chance to race in the superfast Etisalat F1×3 car, an original racing car with three seats, especially designed to provide the ultimate racing experience from the tracks.

With the upcoming Formula 1 season in its second year, Etisalat’s high-profile promotion entitles lucky customers the chance to race in the specially designed F1×3 car during  October, with a professional race driver. Etisalat customers can avail raffle draw entries by simply sending a text message ‘F1X3′, to 1110, to get one draw entry and one week race alerts for free. Customers can call 800 PROMO for more information on the promotion.

Etisalat has bought exclusive rights, to the F1×3 car especially designed to accommodate a  driver and two   passengers at a time. The car specifications are similar to a real racing car, including the engine capacity, acceleration, maximum speed as well as the look and feel.

The car is capable to hit speeds of over  300 km/hr and accelerations from 0 to 200 in 4.8 seconds.  It will be displayed for the motor enthusiasts at malls in the Emirates of Dubai and Abu Dhabi during October. Sports fans can also get a first hand feel of the F1×3 cars at Gitex Shopper 2010 from 16 to 23 October.

The race features a completely controlled and safe drive by professionals experienced in international championships, enabling them to hit extraordinary speeds in the safest way possible. Passengers will be equipped with FIA homologated overall, boots, gloves and helmet and medical units will be operational at the track.

According to Haitham Al Kharusi, Vice President of Marketing Communications & Loyalty at Etisalat, “ We are delighted to bring back the popular F1×3 promotion for our customers this year. This is in response to the tremendous feedback we received from them on this unique experience where they can truly experience the speed, performance and reliability of an  F1 race car.”

To be eligible for participation to claim the prize thereof, customers must match the physical criteria: height not exceeding 1.9 meters and weight not exceeding 100 kgs. As a safety measure, participants who are below age limit are required to submit a parental authorization for the ride and will need to be accompanied by a parent of a legal tutor. In order to qualify participation, all entries must be replete with information including name and passport details to be used to verify the winning entries.

Watani Press Conference Aug 5

Dubai, 5 August, 2010: Watani, the UAE’s unique celebration of national identity, announced today a partnership with the Maktoum Ramadan Tournament with the aim of mobilising the collective strength of the community and motivating citizens to turn their dreams into reality.

Watani will use the popular sport tournament as a platform to address community members and remind them of the need to align personal objectives with national goals, as part of its ongoing outreach campaign built around the theme of ‘Turning the dream into reality’.

Mohammed Baharoon, Deputy Director General of Watani said: “The Maktoum Ramadan Tournament presents a strong opportunity for Watani to interact with an integral section of the society. It is an effective platform to demonstrate and communicate the significance of turning our dreams into reality and how unity can help us accomplish difficult targets”.

“The Watani concept of ‘Turning the dream into reality’ has been embraced by all sections of the society ever since it was launched as the ‘Mind pleasure’ campaign in the past. Such wide acceptance is a reflection of the strong desire among community members to rediscover themselves and unite around common goals defined by the leadership,” added Baharoon.

As part of the tournament Watani will host three discussions led by luminaries such as Mohammed Bin Sulayem and Kifah Al Kaabi between the 19th and 21st of August 2010. Watani will also present two lecture sessions focusing on the ‘Ideal life style after the age of 50’ and ‘Ramadan Oasis’.

All the sessions will be held at the Masafi Hall of Coral Residence Hotel, Fujairah, starting from 10 p.m.

Nasser Al Yamahi, Director of the organizing committee of the Maktoum Ramadan Tournament commented: “We have done our best to bring prominent sports champions and media experts to interact with the audiences during the tournament. The personal experiences of these role models will help to drive home the message that national interest should be a priority as each one of us try to achieve our individual goals.  Watani’s participation in this tournament reinforces this message, especially in the context of the goals set by the UAE Vision 2021.”

Herzogenaurach, GERMANY (August 5, 2010)  Usain Bolt was presented with a special PUMA singlet today, in which he will compete against Tyson Gay and Asafa Powell in the much anticipated 100m race at the Olympic Stadium in Stockholm on Friday.  Designed by a Skinny Digital, a renowned Swedish artist, the unique singlet features graphical elements close to Usain’s heart, but with a special Swedish style. 

Skinny Digital used the PUMA Bolt collection as the inspiration for the singlet, as it features graphical elements that Bolt himself created.  The back of the singlet has Bolt riding a lion, a symbol of Jamaican culture.  The words “To Di World” are the name for the iconic pose of the greatest track and field showman.  On the day he launched the new PUMA Bolt collection in Stockholm, the sprinter saw the finished singlet design for the first time along with a matching new spike colorway, and was excited about both.     

“I love it, it’s really good.  A French artist designed a great singlet for me when I ran in Paris a few weeks ago, I was the best looking guy on the track,” said Bolt, when presented with the singlet.  “The Swedish artist Skinny Digital has certainly matched his efforts, I’ll be very happy to run in this on Friday.”

PUMA has commissioned local artists to design custom singlets in further Diamond League events that Bolt will compete in during the 2010 season. These singlets will also fuse Jamaican cultural elements also featured in the PUMA Bolt collection, with symbols synonymous with the host cities.  

For pictures of Bolt with the singlet visit puma.digitalnewsagency.com

Dubai, UAE, 28th July 2010: The Etisalat Academy today invited children from across the UAE to join its exciting annual “Summer Sports and Leisure Camp’, which will remain open until the 26th August. The Etisalat Academy is welcoming children at its state-of-the-art sports facilities from Saturday to Thursday from 9:00 am to 1:30pm.

Children aged between 5 and 12 years can enjoy a sports programme which is designed to suit their interests including swimming, badminton, tennis, kinball, football, fitness circuit, dodgeball and arts. In addition, field trips are organised every Wednesday and special tournaments every Thursday.

The General Manager of the Etisalat Academy, David Brennan, said: “This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Summer Sports and Leisure Camp and we are proud to again offer young people a fun and healthy series of events. This year we have planned more activities, more fun and more learning than ever. The Etisalat Academy has one of the best sporting facilities in Dubai within its learning campus and we are very happy to share these facilities with children in the UAE.”

Parents who are traveling during summer can benefit from the possibility of registering their children at the camp for 2, 4 or 6 weeks. Transportation is also insured for the children those who live in Dubai and Sharjah at special rates.

The Etisalat Academy has a large indoor sports hall, in addition to gyms, aerobics and karate studios, a swimming pool and a library. All these facilities are available to participants. The children will be accompanied by professional coaches and trainers who ensure that all children take part in all the activities.

There are also field trips such as to the Fun Corner for kids from 5 - 6 year olds, bowling, ice skating, Discovery Center - Sharjah, and to the Children City in  Dubai.

The Etisalat Academy’s Summer Sports and Leisure Camp is taking place at its modern campus amongst the palm trees in Al Muhaisnah, Dubai near Mirdiff. Admissions are open every day during the camp from 9:00 am till 5pm and parents can register their children for only AED 1,100 for 2 weeks, AED 2,000 for 4 weeks, and AED 2,800 for 6 weeks.

For information on the Etisalat Academy Summer Sports and Leisure Camp please call 04-2543070 or 04-2043326 or visit www.etac.ae/summercamp

Match Session

Germany-based SG Flensburg-Handewitt, one of the world’s best handball teams and the European champions in handball league, recently concluded a training stint in Ras Al Khaimah as part of their pre-season training campaign. SG Flensburg-Handewitt, which is sponsored by RAK Ceramics-Germany, consists of several players who were medal winners at Beijing Olympics and have been part of the winning European championship team. Further, SG Flensburg-Handewitt also played a friendly match with the UAE National Youth Team at Al Nasr Sports Club, Dubai.        

“RAK Ceramics has always been committed to societal causes and has been encouraging talents in various fields, including sports. In line with this, RAK Ceramics Germany is the sponsor of one of the best handball teams in world - SG Flensburg-Handewitt – resulting in an ideal association for a leading global brand like RAK Ceramics. Handball is a young, fast-paced game that suits RAK Ceramics’ image in Germany, where our products are known to be fresh, youthful and highly innovative,” said Abdallah Massaad, Deputy CEO, RAK Ceramics

RAK Ceramics had recently revealed that it is expecting to increase its market share in Germany, its best market outside the Gulf region, to 10 to 12 per cent in 2010 from 8 per cent last year.

“Training in the UAE, and Ras Al Khaimah in particular, was an exciting experience for us and we thank RAK Ceramics Germany for providing us with the necessary facilities. We are overwhelmed by the hospitality and facilities extended to us throughout our stay here and we eagerly look forward to coming back here. A highlight of our visit was our memorable match against the highly talented UAE National Youth Team, who I believe have the potentials to be into quality players with their commitment and hard work as they already well-versed with skilful handball skills” said Coach Per Carlen from SG Flensburg-Handewitt.

Commenting on the friendly match they played against SG Flensburg-Handewitt, Omran Hussain Altawash from the UAE Handball Federation, said, and “It is not often that we get a chance to play against a world-class team like SG Flensburg-Handewitt. Our young team has certainly learnt a lot from this experience and we appreciate all players of SG Flensburg-Handewitt for their willingness to share their knowledge and experience with us. We want to thank RAK Ceramics for organizing the friendly match that has benefitted the budding UAE handball players.”   

RAK Ceramics is a USD 1 billion global conglomerate in the ceramic industry that exports its products to over 150 countries, targeting architects, project developers and retail customers.

Dubai, UAE; June 28, 2010:  Young football fans and families enjoy live FIFA World Cup action at Stargate located at Gate 4, Zabeel Park. All the matches are being shown absolutely Free on a gigantic cinema like screen.

Visit the family entertainment centre during the month-long Football Fiesta, and enjoy other activities like face painting, football games, skill contests and win big prizes from Microsoft Xbox 360 and Monster.

Switch President says affordability, year-round availability & simplicity of bowling make it ‘unifying sport & pastime’ during UAE visit

Sportal-Switch, a newly-established joint venture between leading sports and fitness equipment providers Switch Entertainment and Sportal, notes that bowling is fast becoming a unifying sport and leisure activity in the Middle East and that the whole region is growing into a major bowling market.

Bowling has become a favorite pastime throughout the region because it is affordable, suitable for all ages and abilities, and can be played throughout the year. It also has a unifying effect as players of all nationalities and beliefs can easily indulge in the game together in one venue. During a recent visit to the UAE, Alain Winterhalter, President of the renowned Italian advanced bowling brand Switch®, said that Dubai and the Middle East can build on its reputation as a travel and leisure destination to establish a strong bowling following.

“The Middle East’s entertainment and amusement industry is characterized by the constant introduction of creative products, family entertainment centres, and theme parks even amidst the global crisis. Dubai in particular typifies the region’s appeal as a leisure hub and we could start here by encouraging more people to try out bowling. The sport has a strong regional potential and the discovery of young Arab talent would raise the Middle East’s stature in international sports,” said Ahmad Komy, Executive Director, Sportal-Switch.

Switch is represented locally by Sportal-Switch and carries a comprehensive range of bowling equipment ranging from seating and ball racks to lanes, lighting and electronic scoring.

Sportal-Switch recently participated in Dubai DEAL 2010, the region’s largest entertainment and leisure show, to boost its regional visibility. The new venture was able to secure several key projects during the event. Sportal-Switch will build a new headquarters and a state-of-the-art showroom in Dubai and pursue a 25 per cent growth within the year. The company manages two regional offices in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

Abu Dhabi can help build new golden era, says ATCUAE President ahead of World Motor Sport Council session

Dubai, UAE, 21st June, 2010:  Mohammed Ben Sulayem heads for the latest World Motor Sport Council meeting in Geneva on Wednesday saying that the FIA Formula One World Championship will always rise above off track controversies and leave them behind.

Sulayem, the FIA’s Vice President for Sport, believes the future for F1 has never been brighter, and that Abu Dhabi’s emergence as a Grand Prix venue has come at the start of another golden era for the world’s elite motor racing series.

“We’ve had negative headlines in recent times, and down the years, but the strength of F1 is what happens on the race track and the massive excitement that generates on around the world,” said Sulayem, President of the ATCUAE.

World Motor Sport Council members meeting in Geneva will decide on disciplinary action against the USF1 team for its non-participation in the 2010 championship after being granted entry to the series.

Sulayem said: “Here in the UAE, we can’t wait for November to come round again after the successful launch of the Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, and there’s so much to look forward to. We could be heading into another golden spell for Formula One, and Abu Dhabi has already shown that is has so much to contribute by creating such a fantastic circuit, and event, at Yas Marina.”

Sulayem is the first Arab to be elected to the World Motor Sport Council.