His Highness Sheikh Nahyan bin Zayed al Nahyan today officially opened Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2017, held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.
The five-day event opened with an official ceremony that begun with the national anthem of the UAE followed by a speech from Chairman of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation and Jiu-Jitsu Asian Union and Senior Vice President of the Jiu-Jitsu International Federation H.E. Abdulmunem Al Sayed Mohammed Al Hashmi.
Speaking to a packed IPIC Arena, Al Hashmi said: “We are honoured by your presence in the biggest sport event organised by UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation for the ninth year in a row. By the grace of God and the unlimited support offered by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al Nahyan, UAE has become a cultural hub and Abu Dhabi established itself as an international capital for Jiu-Jitsu.
“We meet here today for the Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship and we are proud of organising the largest international Jiu-Jitsu competition in history, with more than 7,000 competitors coming from one hundred countries around the world across 14 days for the first time.
“As part of the Year of Giving initiative, we are proud to welcome Para-Jiu-Jitsu competitors to participate at this event. The huge attraction to the sport for the youth of the UAE is proof that all parts of our community are embracing Jiu-Jitsu’s culture and the sport’s values. It’s also a reflection of the great support provided to this sport by the people of the UAE. I would like to thank the schools, families, the Federation and partners.”
Speaking at the Championship today the General Secretary of Abu Dhabi Sports Council said: “We are glad to be celebrating again the opening of the International Jiu-Jitsu Championship. It’s always a time when we are glad to see the gathering of a lot of champions who are still working hard to reach glory with their brothers, celebrating a good gathering and a good sport.
“We are also happy to receive more than 7,000 athletes in this championship. The standard of the Jiu-Jitsu International Championship has been evolving every year to a higher standard and they have really raised the barrier for any other sport to compete with them.
“We wish good luck to all the participants and know they will participate with good will and sportsmanship. Everyone who participates in this championship will be a winner.”
The packed audience at the IPIC Arena watched a screening of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces talking about how it is important to defend our country.
Spectators were then treated to a performance by local school children, titled the Nation of Giving, which highlighted the UAE’s Year of Giving initiative for 2017.
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