Dubai is set to stage International Charitable Sports Festival for People of Determination around Asia, which features various activities, most notably a football match between the stars of the World Cup and Asian stars to take place on 14 January 2023, it was announced by the Asian Paralympic Committee (APC) and the Dubai Club for People of Determination on Thursday.

The Sports Festival, to be held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Sports Council and Chairman of the Higher Committee for the Protection of the Rights of People of Determination, will be organised by the APC and the Dubai Club in cooperation with the Dubai Sports Council and Laval United Football Club in Dubai.

The benefits of the Festival will be for the People of Determination in Asian countries within the framework of community partnership and opening up prospects for cooperation besides promoting various initiatives for People of Determination across the continent.

The announcement came in the presence of Majid Rashed, President of the Asian Paralympic Committee; Saeed Hareb, Secretary-General of the Dubai Sports Council; Mohammed Abdul Karim Julfar, Vice Chairman of the Dubai Club for People of Determination; and Yahya Kurdi, Chairman of the Board of Directors, of Laval United Football Club.

Among the stars, former World Cup stars Carlos Caetano Bledorn Verri (Dunga), Aldair Nascimento dos Santos (Aldair) attended the event while Roberto Carlos, Rivaldo, Zico and Wolfgang Rolff took part via video teleconferencing.

Medical Assistance

Speaking at the Press Conference, Rashed thanked the UAE’s wise leadership, which has continued to pay special attention to the People of Determination, indicating that the decree issued by His Highness the President of the State to host the Asian Paralympic Committee headquarters in the UAE is a “clear indication of the nation’s pioneering role in supporting and empowering the People of Determination worldwide”.

Rashed also thanked His Highness Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum for his support that include programmes and projects to rehabilitate and empower the People of Determination in the society.

“The main objective of the initiative is to provide services to the People of Determination, care for and rehabilitate them in several areas, most notably education, training, integration into society, strengthening charitable work, and launching many ideas to serve this segment of society.

“Through this charitable sports festival, we seek to provide medical assistance and provide prosthetic devices to integrate People of Determination in some Asian countries in various areas of life,” said Rashed.

‘UAE a pioneer in supporting charitable initiatives’

For his part, Saeed Hareb, Secretary-General of the Dubai Sports Council, said, “The UAE has been a pioneer since its establishment in launching and supporting charitable initiatives and attracting elite stars to participate in these events.

“We in the Dubai Sports Council are pleased to cooperate with the APC, Dubai Club for People of Determination and Laval United Club in this initiative, whose profits will be allocated to the People of Determination. We greatly appreciate the participation of the world’s top Brazilian football stars in this charitable initiative. These players are not just world champions but adults with spirit of love for giving, helping the needy and enhancing the role of sport in serving societies and humanitarian issues,” H.E. Hareb said.

‘Full integration into society’

Mohammed Abdul Karim Julfar added: “This joint initiative comes to enhance the UAE’s leading role in supporting the People of Determination in all fields and their full integration into society, which will have a positive impact on their path at all levels.”

Yahya Kurdi added that this joint initiative has come through the directives of the wise Emirati leadership to support the People of Determination and provide them with the ingredients for success.

“Initiatives like this will not just help the People of Determination succeed in transforming difficulties into energy but will integrate them into society, with insightful vision and sound planning.

“Laval is an integral part of such charitable works and grand initiatives to contribute to the service of society in Asia and the UAE through the People of Determination who, are in everyone’s hearts,” added Kurdi.