Dubai // Schools were happy to collect prizes totalling Dh360,000 in the inaugural Commercial Bank of Dubai Youth Athletics Championships, but instructors said money was not their main motivation.
The event was launched by the Dubai Sports Council with an investment of Dh1 million from the bank. More than a third of those funds went to the winning schools.
"I don't think it is really about the money," said Andreas Bertram, a physical education instructor at The German International School, which carried off the biggest prize cheque of Dh90,000.
"The most important thing is organising such events. We need more and more athletic events, maybe every second or third week."
Competitions at the Dubai Police Stadium were held in three categories for boys - Under-12, Under-15 and Under-17 - and one for girls. Schools topping each category received Dh40,000, while the runners-up and third-placed team got Dh30,000 and Dh20,000, respectively.
The German School won the girls division, and finished second in the boys' Under-15 and third in the boys' Under-12.
"Dubai is a multicultural city, an international melting pot, which you don't have in Germany. So it is very easy to get everybody involved, just on the weekends," Bertram said.
"It's amazing and they should do more such events open to schools of all nationalities. That's what happens at the Olympics and World Cups. It's a good feeling to see how children of other nationalities are doing."
Bertram has been impressed with the sports facilities in the country, but feels they are not being utilised properly through regular competition.
"The idea is really good because such events are necessary," he said. "Dubai has a lot of sports facilities, but they don't really use them. So this is a good start and hopefully they will continue in this way with more schools.
"Maybe they should hold this event two or even three times a year so that the students can continue to train."
Richard Vivian, a PE teacher at Jumeirah College, said facilities in the city could compensate for a lack of resources at many schools.
"The biggest struggle is every school has a pool, whereas not every school has an athletics track or the options to compete in a facility," he said. "It's tough.
"We are fortunate we are having our sports day at the Al Wasl Club. The Dubai Sports Council has been brilliant and is helping us set that up. Without that goodwill, we wouldn't be having that."
Paatal Lok season two
Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
More on Quran memorisation:
Banned items
Dubai Police has also issued a list of banned items at the ground on Sunday. These include:
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Political flags or banners
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Bikes, skateboards or scooters
The specs
Engine: Direct injection 4-cylinder 1.4-litre
Power: 150hp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: From Dh139,000
On sale: Now
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Europe’s rearming plan
- Suspend strict budget rules to allow member countries to step up defence spending
- Create new "instrument" providing €150 billion of loans to member countries for defence investment
- Use the existing EU budget to direct more funds towards defence-related investment
- Engage the bloc's European Investment Bank to drop limits on lending to defence firms
- Create a savings and investments union to help companies access capital
Cryopreservation: A timeline
- Keyhole surgery under general anaesthetic
- Ovarian tissue surgically removed
- Tissue processed in a high-tech facility
- Tissue re-implanted at a time of the patient’s choosing
- Full hormone production regained within 4-6 months
UAE v Gibraltar
What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)
The Brutalist
Director: Brady Corbet
Stars: Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce, Joe Alwyn
Rating: 3.5/5
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
What is the FNC?
The Federal National Council is one of five federal authorities established by the UAE constitution. It held its first session on December 2, 1972, a year to the day after Federation.
It has 40 members, eight of whom are women. The members represent the UAE population through each of the emirates. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have eight members each, Sharjah and Ras al Khaimah six, and Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain have four.
They bring Emirati issues to the council for debate and put those concerns to ministers summoned for questioning.
The FNC’s main functions include passing, amending or rejecting federal draft laws, discussing international treaties and agreements, and offering recommendations on general subjects raised during sessions.
Federal draft laws must first pass through the FNC for recommendations when members can amend the laws to suit the needs of citizens. The draft laws are then forwarded to the Cabinet for consideration and approval.
Since 2006, half of the members have been elected by UAE citizens to serve four-year terms and the other half are appointed by the Ruler’s Courts of the seven emirates.
In the 2015 elections, 78 of the 252 candidates were women. Women also represented 48 per cent of all voters and 67 per cent of the voters were under the age of 40.
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