Shaikh Khalid patronises National Day festival

Manama, Dec. 13 (BNA): Under the patronage and presence of His Highness Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, First Deputy President of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports, Honourary President of the Bahrain Disabled Sports Federation (BDSF), the National Day festival organized by the BDSF for people with disabilities onDecember 9-12, has concluded. The festival comes as part of the National Day Celebration on December 16 and the Anniversary of the HM King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa's ascension to the throne on December 17. His Highness Shaikh Khalid watched the activities of the festival with the attendance of Hisham bin Mohamed Al Jowder, Minister of Youth & Sports Affairs, Abdulrahman Sadeq Askar, the Bahrain Olympic Committee Secretary General, Shaikh Mohammed bin Daij Al Khalifa, President of the BDSF and several members of the federation. The festival included participation from 110 male and female athletes competing in nine competitions: Badminton, Ping-Pong (hearing disabilities and mental disabilities), Shudan (blind disabilities), Bocce (cerebral paralysis), sitting volleyball (hearing impaired), Bocce (special Olympics), penalty shots (hearing impaired), athletic games "sitting throws" and weight lifting "movement disabilities). His Highness said: "I was very happy with the organization of the festival which showed the overflowing feeling of love for the nation and their leader, HM King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. The festival was a living example of what this beautiful category has showed in expressing love towards the wise leadership and our previous country. I was filled with joy with meeting and participating with my brothers and sisters in this festival, which reflected on the abilities that qualify them to reach their goals in sport. We will continue our support to Bahrain's youth, especially people with disabilities, to create the ideal atmosphere for them to unleash their talents that will help them achieve their goals and aspirations." His Highness expressed his appreciation of the efforts of Shaikh Mohammed and all BDSF members, in organizing programmes and activities aimed to integrate people with disabilities in the Kingdom's National Day celebrations, giving them a chance to express their patriotism and love to the wise leadership. His Highness stressed that the festival gives people with disabilities the opportunity to show their sports abilities, which contributes to the development of this game. "The festival reflected on the efforts aimed at supporting youth with disabilities energies, through holding competitions that encourage them to showcase their sports abilities, and aimed at the development of this sport, which achieves the aspiration towards foreign participation to achieve positive results and raise the flag of Bahrain high up high at various international gatherings," HH Shaikh Khalid said. His Highness wished luck to the Bahrain Wheelchair Basketball team in their upcoming participation in the GCC championship hosted by United Arab Emirates. HH Shaikh Khalid was keen on following up on all of the festival's competitions, meeting athletes and taking pictures with them. His Highness crowned the first-place winners and wished luck to the rest in upcoming participation. His Highness Shaikh Khalid listened to verses of poetry on the sidelines of the festival, written by athlete Ali Ahmed Ragheb, where he said: Shaikh Mohammed expressed his sincere thanks and deep gratitude to His Highness Shaikh Khalid, stressing that His Highness’ patronage of the festival achieved the success that the Federation wanted to achieve it. He pointed out that His Highness’ presence and follow-up with the festival’s activities came as a confirmation of his personal interest and support of his fellow athletes with disabilities, elaborating that it contributed to development in the levels of those involved in the sport, and through which have many results and goals of the Federation have been achieved, in line with the directives, aspirations and visions of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports and the Bahrain Olympic Committee for the advancement of Bahraini sport. "We are proud of the honourary presidency of HH Shaikh Khalid . His sponsorship of the festival and his personal attendance are a source of appreciation and pride to all of us. The presence of His Highness gave everyone motivation and boost to morale in order to exert effort in contributing to the development of Bahraini sport," he said.