NPCs of Great Britain and UAE receive awards

The British Paralympic Association (BPA) and the United Arab Emirates Paralympic Committee (UAEPC) received the ‘H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum Creative Sports Awards’ in recognition of their work in 2016, at a ceremony held in Dubai, UAE, on 9 January.

This was the eighth edition of the awards, which honour local and Arab sporting figures, as well as others from around the world.

H.H. Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, and H.H. Sheikh Ahmed Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, President of the National Olympic Committee, awarded the winners of the different categories.

The BPA received the ‘National Paralympic Committee of the Year Award’ for implementing a programme "based on integrity and transparency...expanding opportunities for athletes to attain medals and motivating the upcoming generations."

BPA Chairman Tim Reddish and Chief Executive Tim Hollingsworth were present to collect the award.

The ‘Local Sports Organisation of the Year Award’ was given to the UAEPC following the Asian country’s historical performance at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, winning two golds, four silvers and one bronze.

Tunisia’s two-time Rio 2016 gold medallist Maroua Brahmi was selected ‘Disabled Athlete of the Year.’

International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Board Member and UAEPC President Mohammed Al Hameli received the award.

IPC President Sir Philip Craven attended the ceremony and said: “That Para sport has featured so prominently at these awards is an example of just how much impact our Movement is generating around the world.

“I wish to congratulate each of the worthy winners and also to personally thank H.H. Sheikh Mohammed for his extremely generous support for and promotion of sport within the region and around the world.

“The establishment of a specific category of award for NPCs is terrific and the start of what we hope and anticipate will be a long-term partnership.”

H.H. Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, President of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chairman of Emirates Group, and H.H. Princess Haya Bint Al-Hussein, wife of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, also attended the ceremony.