– More than 5,300 contestants from 97 countries confirmed their participation in the event.
Al Kaabi: The marathon is a lofty humanitarian message from the Emirates to the whole world.
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From / Amin Al-Doubli and Ahmed Mustafa..
ABU DHABI, 18th November, 2020 (WAM) — The activities of the Zayed Charity Marathon will start tomorrow, which will be held in Abu Dhabi under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, representative of the ruler in the Al Dhafra region, during which the competitors will compete for financial prizes of one million dirhams allocated to the first places.
The proceeds from the current edition of the marathon were allocated to the organ donation and transplantation program supported by the Emirates Red Crescent.
The Supreme Organizing Committee of the event finished all preparations for the launch tomorrow at 7:30 am in front of the “Abu Dhabi Legacy” hotel, with the participation of more than 5,300 contestants, which is the number that was registered, hours before the registration door closed, as the participants in this humanitarian event represent more than 97 country, led by participants from the UAE with a rate of close to 40%.
The current edition of the Zayed Charity Marathon in Abu Dhabi is witnessing the establishment of a festive festival on the sidelines of the race, which includes a large heritage tent at the starting and finishing points, which includes many activities, events, products and distinctive popular dishes that will be presented to the participants and followers.
The first place holder in the 3 km category will receive 10,000 dirhams for males and the same for females, and in the 5 km race, the first place holder will receive 15,000 dirhams for men and the same for women, while the first place holder in the 10 km distance will get 25 One thousand dirhams for men and the same for women, and in the category of People of Determination for a distance of 10 km for paraplegia, the first place holder will receive 13 thousand dirhams, and the same amount for people of determination in the category of amputation disability, and 7 thousand dirhams for the category of People of Determination for a distance of 5 km in wheelchairs, and 1000 dirhams for people of determination category The 3 km (Special Olympics) in the positions from the first to the 11th place.
Lieutenant General (M) Muhammad Hilal Al Kaabi, Chairman of the Supreme Organizing Committee of the Marathon, confirmed that the return of the marathon again to Abu Dhabi, its launch site, after the forced hiatus since 2019 due to the Corona pandemic, with this number of registrants, confirms that we are facing an exceptional return to this event that is dear to all of our hearts.
Al-Kaabi said in statements to the Emirates News Agency, WAM: “We are very happy that this number of participants has reached more than 5,300 registrants, especially since a large percentage of them are from the UAE, in a special message from the marathon to the whole world.
Lieutenant General (M) Mohammed Hilal Al Kaabi, Chairman of the Supreme Organizing Committee of the Marathon, held a reception this afternoon for the guests of the Athletics Federation and the marathon guests, at the headquarters of the “Abu Dhabi Legacy Hotel” to celebrate them, where he briefed them on the latest preparations before the actual start of the marathon in several hours.
Staff Lieutenant General (M) Mohammed Hilal Al Kaabi added: “The idea of the marathon inspired by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the State, may God protect him, is a sublime humanitarian message from the UAE to the peoples of the whole world, as the proceeds and good of the marathon from the Emirates reach the needy in All countries of the world, embodying the meanings of humanity, tolerance and giving from our beloved country.
And the Chairman of the Higher Organizing Committee of the Zayed Charity Marathon continued: “Every time a certain group is chosen to donate to it, whether in the Emirates, New York or Cairo, and this time the proceeds of the event were allocated in favor of the donation and organ transplantation program, which is supported by a large institution, the Emirates Red Crescent.” And we will always continue our message from the UAE to the world to spread the values of peace, tolerance and giving.
Lieutenant General (M) Mohammed Hilal Al Kaabi confirmed that preparations for this great event have been fully completed, and that there is great confidence in the success of the marathon in its current edition in Abu Dhabi in order to achieve all its goals at once.
Frenchwoman Natalie Claude Jacqueline, who donated her deceased son to the program, confirmed that she is happy with what her son gave to humanity, and proud to be on the land of the Emirates in order to participate in this great humanitarian event that embodies many values and positive messages for everyone around the world.
She said, “The Zayed Charity Marathon represents a great human value and a unique event, which calls on everyone to spread the culture of love and peace, and to affirm that human giving has no limits or ceiling in order to save lives and perpetuate noble meanings and human values among people everywhere.”
She added, “The UAE is the land of initiatives and the home of giving, creativity and tolerance. Thank you to this benevolent country and to all those in charge of this marathon, which is a humanitarian event par excellence.”
The Supreme Organizing Committee of the event announced the division of the marathon categories into categories that allow everyone to participate and contribute to achieving the noble goal of the marathon by supporting various health activities and programmes. Amputees, people of determination in wheelchairs, and people of determination Special Olympics.
It is worth noting that the Zayed Charity Marathon was launched in Abu Dhabi for the first time in 2001 under the guidance and sponsorship of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the State, “may God protect him”. For the spirit of giving and benevolence that he called for and followed, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, “may God rest his soul in peace,” and the marathon bears his name.