Qatar's Sami Abu Sheikha Appointed VP of World Powerboating Body

Doha, October 25 (QNA) - Qatar's Sami Abu Sheikha has been appointed Senior Vice President of the Union Internationale Motonautique (UIM), the world governing body for Power Boating, at its General Assembly held recently in Corfu, Greece, Qatar Marine Sports Federation said in a media statement Thursday. Sami Abu's appointment follows the retirement of American Charles Strang, a respected marine sports official, at the 85th General Assembly, organised by the Greek Powerboating Federation and Corfu Motorboat Club under the support of Greek National Authority at the Corfu Island. Speaking on his appointment to the senior position, Sami Abu Sheikha said, "This appointment is the result of the hard work and the key roles played by every member of the QMSF under the able chairmanship of Sheikh Hassan bin Jabor Al Thani." Commenting on Sami Abu Sheikha's appointment, Sheikh Hassan bin Jabor Al Thani, said, "Sami has been a very important board member since the inception of QMSF in the year 2000. He has served as the secretary of the Union and strategically contributed in guided it in the right direction. "Being a qualified and experienced lawyer, he is eminently suitable for the new position at the UIM. I know very well that his new task will not be easy, but he has the skills to fulfill his responsibilities to the best of his abilities. I wish him every success in his new position." UIM Safety chief Bob Wartinger had proposed fellow American Fred Haunstein for the post but the UIM hierarchy decided that it might result in a "conflict of interests". It was then Sami Abu Sheikha, a Qatari lawyer and head of the Qatar Water Ski Federation and a member of the UIM Committee, candidacy was forward for the position of Senior Vice President and it was accepted, the UIM said. The sport is governed by the Monaco based UIM. Over the last two decades, the UIM has grown most and part of the onus for this must fall on the proliferation of racing driven jointly by the Union and its various independent promoters. Most notably this has seen racing extend its horizons to encompass China, Cuba, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Brazil, Greece, Hungary, Qatar, Kuwait, Malaysia, Malta, Russia, South Africa, Thailand, Ukraine and the growth is likely to continue. (QNA)