RIO DE JANEIRO // It is little wonder the UAE is keen for jiu-jitsu to be accepted into the Olympic Games when the country’s athletes can perform as proficiently as they did at this past weekend’s Abu Dhabi Grand Slam World Tour in Rio de Janeiro.
As Yahia Mansour Al Hammadi said after taking two gold medals in the 108kg brown belt division: “If the sport is ever accepted into the Olympics, I’m 99 per cent sure we will win a lot.”
Amid the pool of more than 2,000 athletes that came from far and wide for a shot at the US$100,000 (Dh367,000) prize fund – Angola to Argentina, Poland to Portugal – a small band of 27 Emiratis did their nation proud. Inside the Rio Olympic Arena, they fought hard and fair and will return home this week with 24 ribboned rewards.
“I am very happy. It has been a great event,” said Mohamed Humaid bin Dalmouj, a board member with the UAE Jiu Jitsu Federation (UAEJJF). “The spectator turnout has been fantastic, the competition is the highest level we have ever seen at an Abu Dhabi Grand Slam event, and, if we are honest, our UAE team has won more medals than we expected. Without doubt, this has been our most successful event yet.”
Faisal Al Ketbi, the 28-year-old black belt, was one of 15 representatives of the UAEJJF to win gold, while a further four won silver and five took bronze.
“The Brazilian fans were obviously behind their fighter, but there is a mutual respect between us all,” said Al Ketbi, who in beating local practitioner Pedro Agrizzi disappointed the local and vocal fans inside the arena. “I’m just very happy and proud to be here and to see the support and interest the sport is generating.”
The Rio haul resulted in the UAE jiu-jitsu team finishing fourth overall in the Best Team No-Gi standings. The next event takes the team to Poland for the World Championships, before returning to Abu Dhabi for the signature Grand Slam in January. The vision of the UAEJJF, however, is far more long-sighted.
“The federation knows the country has huge potential and their main objective is to get the sport into the Olympics, but it will take time,” said Al Hammadi, who won gold at this year’s Asian Beach Games, the second-largest multi-sport event in the world. “There are many things that must change to meet the Olympic requirements, but we know that is the ultimate goal.”
As well as not yet complying with the specifications outlined in the World Anti-Doping Authority’s Code of Conduct, the sport’s international federation, the IBJJF, is not recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). It is this that the Emirates is setting its sights on amending. Discussions took place this weekend between the UAEJJF and several high-ranking Brazilian jiu-jitsu officials to strengthen ties and take the sport forward.
Initially at least, it appears positive.
“The affiliation between the Federacao Brasileira de Jiu Jitsu and the UAEJJF is very important because they are very organised with professionalism and a lot of structure and are taking the sport to the level that we all desire,” said Rogerio Gavassa, president of the Federacao Carioca, the governing body for jiu-jitsu in the state of Rio de Janeiro.
Al Hammadi also held direct talks with Walter Mattos, president of the Federacao Brasileira de Jiu Jitsu, the national federation, regarding an online portal he hopes to help set up to improve professionalism and ease of access to a wider audience. With the sport already accepted into the Olympic Council of Asia and set to debut at the World Beach Games in California in 2019, the focus is now on Europe.
“First, we are trying to get all the federations from around the world to be accepted by their own individual National Olympic Committees,” he said. “We are already working on being accepted into the European Games and then we will look to South and North America, which is a little bit harder.
“It’s a long process and we are not ready yet, but we are making progress. I believe that by 2019, we will at least be recognised by the IOC.”
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Profile of MoneyFellows
Founder: Ahmed Wadi
Launched: 2016
Employees: 76
Financing stage: Series A ($4 million)
Investors: Partech, Sawari Ventures, 500 Startups, Dubai Angel Investors, Phoenician Fund
A timeline of the Historical Dictionary of the Arabic Language
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Tax authority targets shisha levy evasion
The Federal Tax Authority will track shisha imports with electronic markers to protect customers and ensure levies have been paid.
Khalid Ali Al Bustani, director of the tax authority, on Sunday said the move is to "prevent tax evasion and support the authority’s tax collection efforts".
The scheme’s first phase, which came into effect on 1st January, 2019, covers all types of imported and domestically produced and distributed cigarettes. As of May 1, importing any type of cigarettes without the digital marks will be prohibited.
He said the latest phase will see imported and locally produced shisha tobacco tracked by the final quarter of this year.
"The FTA also maintains ongoing communication with concerned companies, to help them adapt their systems to meet our requirements and coordinate between all parties involved," he said.
As with cigarettes, shisha was hit with a 100 per cent tax in October 2017, though manufacturers and cafes absorbed some of the costs to prevent prices doubling.
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Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
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Business Insights
- Canada and Mexico are significant energy suppliers to the US, providing the majority of oil and natural gas imports
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The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
Company profile
Date started: 2015
Founder: John Tsioris and Ioanna Angelidaki
Based: Dubai
Sector: Online grocery delivery
Staff: 200
Funding: Undisclosed, but investors include the Jabbar Internet Group and Venture Friends
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Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine
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Engine: six-litre W12 twin-turbo
Transmission: eight-speed dual clutch auto
Power: 626bhp
Torque: 900Nm
Price: Dh940,160 (plus VAT)
On sale: Q1 2020
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1. Cecilie Hatteland (NOR) atop Alex - 31.46 seconds
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The specs
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Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
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COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
Results
- Brock Lesnar retained the WWE Universal title against Roman Reigns
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TO A LAND UNKNOWN
Director: Mahdi Fleifel
Starring: Mahmoud Bakri, Aram Sabbah, Mohammad Alsurafa
Rating: 4.5/5
Disclaimer
Director: Alfonso Cuaron
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Rating: 4/5
THE BIO
Favourite car: Koenigsegg Agera RS or Renault Trezor concept car.
Favourite book: I Am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes or Red Notice by Bill Browder.
Biggest inspiration: My husband Nik. He really got me through a lot with his positivity.
Favourite holiday destination: Being at home in Australia, as I travel all over the world for work. It’s great to just hang out with my husband and family.
The stats: 2017 Jaguar XJ
Price, base / as tested Dh326,700 / Dh342,700
Engine 3.0L V6
Transmission Eight-speed automatic
Power 340hp @ 6,000pm
Torque 450Nm @ 3,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined 9.1L / 100km
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The biog
Favourite film: Motorcycle Dairies, Monsieur Hulot’s Holiday, Kagemusha
Favourite book: One Hundred Years of Solitude
Holiday destination: Sri Lanka
First car: VW Golf
Proudest achievement: Building Robotics Labs at Khalifa University and King’s College London, Daughters
Driverless cars or drones: Driverless Cars
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Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
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'The worst thing you can eat'
Trans fat is typically found in fried and baked goods, but you may be consuming more than you think.
Powdered coffee creamer, microwave popcorn and virtually anything processed with a crust is likely to contain it, as this guide from Mayo Clinic outlines:
Baked goods - Most cakes, cookies, pie crusts and crackers contain shortening, which is usually made from partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. Ready-made frosting is another source of trans fat.
Snacks - Potato, corn and tortilla chips often contain trans fat. And while popcorn can be a healthy snack, many types of packaged or microwave popcorn use trans fat to help cook or flavour the popcorn.
Fried food - Foods that require deep frying — french fries, doughnuts and fried chicken — can contain trans fat from the oil used in the cooking process.
Refrigerator dough - Products such as canned biscuits and cinnamon rolls often contain trans fat, as do frozen pizza crusts.
Creamer and margarine - Nondairy coffee creamer and stick margarines also may contain partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
The specs
Engine: 3-litre twin-turbo V6
Power: 400hp
Torque: 475Nm
Transmission: 9-speed automatic
Price: From Dh215,900
On sale: Now
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
Business Insights
- As per the document, there are six filing options, including choosing to report on a realisation basis and transitional rules for pre-tax period gains or losses.
- SMEs with revenue below Dh3 million per annum can opt for transitional relief until 2026, treating them as having no taxable income.
- Larger entities have specific provisions for asset and liability movements, business restructuring, and handling foreign permanent establishments.
Electoral College Victory
Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate.
Popular Vote Tally
The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.
