Sharjah 24 – WAM: The World Paralympic Shooting Championship 2022 opening ceremony was held Saturday evening at Al Jahili Fort in Al Ain, in the presence of Sheikh Khalid bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Board of Zayed Higher Organisation for People of Determination (ZHO).

This championship, held under the patronage of Sheikh Nahyan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Zayed Charitable and Humanitarian Foundation, is being hosted by the Emirate of Abu Dhabi for the first time on the level of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region at Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting and Golf Club on 3-18 November under ZHO’s organisation, in cooperation with the International Paralympic Shooting Federation and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC).

Sheikh Khalid bin Zayed welcomed IPC’s delegation and all the delegates and athletes taking part in the competitions of the tournament. “We are honoured to host the competitions of the 2022 World Paralympic Shooting Championship in the city of Al Ain in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi for the first time in the MENA region, which emphasises the successes that have been achieved in the sport of the people of determination in the UAE,” he said.

“Such achievements would not have taken place without the support of the wise leadership of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, and Their Highnesses, Supreme Council Members and Rulers of the Emirates," he added.

Sheikh Khalid pointed out, “The outstanding sport capabilities and the big success achieved by the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and ZHO, in the organisation and hosting of a series of Paralympic Shooting World cups throughout a span of five years, as well as the organisation of several international sport events, constitutes a large trust being vested by the international sport community into Abu Dhabi and the UAE. This yielded positive results that have contributed to attaining a record number as 54 countries throughout the world have confirmed their participation in the competitions of the tournament.”

Sheikh Khalid conveyed his best wishes for all players to excel and compete strongly for earning the top positions within a framework of honest athletic competition, so that the tournament would become a bridge of peace and love to all the peoples of the world, embodying by such the noble humanitarian principles and values of mercy, tolerance and human fraternity, which we have learnt from the Founding Father Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and which are being instilled within our spirits and daily lives by our wise leadership.