ABU DHABI // An Emirati Formula One presenter is making a name for himself among the world's best drivers - thanks in part, he says, to his national dress.
Hamad al Ibrahim is the presenter and reporter for Abu Dhabi Sports 2 television channel. He has travelled around the world with the F1 circus, interviewing top drivers each race.
"I am the only one on the grid before the race in traditional dress," he said. "No matter how bad the weather is, I wear it. The drivers have got to know me and I am easily recognised. There are also times when I am not there, and the station gets e-mails asking where I am."
Al Ibrahim interviews celebrities and drivers in English live on Sports 2 and then translates into Arabic.
This is the second year that the season has been broadcast by Abu Dhabi Media Company (ADMC), which also publishes The National.
Al Ibrahim is part of the show's six-man team, three of whom broadcast live from all the European races, as well as Bahrain. Ayman Abdelwahed, the head of motorsports and F1 commentator at ADMC , said the show was unique. "We are the only ones that cover every type of race."
Firas al Nimri, another commentator, said viewers' knowledge had grown with the team. "The types of questions have changed," he said. "At first we were getting e-mails with questions about rumours or gossip. Now the questions are very technical and very knowledgeable."
eharnan@thenational.ae
French business
France has organised a delegation of leading businesses to travel to Syria. The group was led by French shipping giant CMA CGM, which struck a 30-year contract in May with the Syrian government to develop and run Latakia port. Also present were water and waste management company Suez, defence multinational Thales, and Ellipse Group, which is currently looking into rehabilitating Syrian hospitals.
POSSIBLE ENGLAND EURO 2020 SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford, Nick Pope, Dean Henderson.
Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold, Kieran Trippier, Joe Gomez, John Stones, Harry Maguire, Tyrone Mings, Ben Chilwell, Fabian Delph.
Midfielders: Declan Rice, Harry Winks, Jordan Henderson, Ross Barkley, Mason Mount, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Forwards: Harry Kane, Raheem Sterling, Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, Tammy Abraham, Callum Hudson-Odoi.
The Penguin
Starring: Colin Farrell, Cristin Milioti, Rhenzy Feliz
Creator: Lauren LeFranc
Rating: 4/5
Cricket World Cup League 2
UAE squad
Rahul Chopra (captain), Aayan Afzal Khan, Ali Naseer, Aryansh Sharma, Basil Hameed, Dhruv Parashar, Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Farooq, Muhammad Jawadullah, Muhammad Waseem, Omid Rahman, Rahul Bhatia, Tanish Suri, Vishnu Sukumaran, Vriitya Aravind
Fixtures
Friday, November 1 – Oman v UAE
Sunday, November 3 – UAE v Netherlands
Thursday, November 7 – UAE v Oman
Saturday, November 9 – Netherlands v UAE
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Destroyer
Director: Karyn Kusama
Cast: Nicole Kidman, Toby Kebbell, Sebastian Stan
Rating: 3/5
UAE release: January 31
Islamophobia definition
A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.
