Sports | Monday 23 October, 2017 2:50 am |

An open day for the senior members of community was organised by Sharjah Women’s Sport Foundation (SWSF) recently to promote awareness about the importance of physical activity and exercise for disease prevention, especially during the mature years of one’s life.

 

The event reflected SWSF’s overall mission to motivate community members to lead a healthy life and encourage them to exercise daily for good mental and physical health. The activity, which comes in line with SWSF’s leading role in supporting sports as well as with their commitment to social responsibility, saw the participation of 25 senior men and women alongside the Foundation’s staff.

 

One of the main objectives of brining the two age groups together was to strengthen social bonds between the younger and older generations by providing them a common platform to mingle through sports.

 

The event featured several activities and sports competitions that received admiration from participants. It also included exciting competitions and games like archery and basketball, as well as other group activities aimed at enhancing a spirit of enthusiasm and friendship among participants.

 

“Through an array of community sporting events and SWFS’s overall strategy on social engagement and acceptance of sports as one of its essential building blocks, we continue to consolidate the pillars of women's sports in the UAE and the region. The more people participate in sports and physical activities, the more conducive and friendly the environment becomes for women and society in general to pursue sports. We want to do our best to enable all segments of society to embrace healthy lifestyles,” said HE Nada Askar Al Naqbi, Director General of SWSF.

 

She noted: “The open day also symbolised our respect and appreciation for the elders in the community; SWSF’s way to recognise what the earlier generations have given to us through their numerous roles in community building. We are proud of the values and principles that have been passed on to us by our forefathers, the open day was a simple gesture to express our love and appreciation to this prized section of society.” 

 

Al Naqbi emphasised how the core sentiment of the event leapt beyond the dimensions of pure sports to include the sublime spirit of community, reflected in the convergence of old and new ideas and unique interactions between them. 

 

“At any age, one’s health is of supreme importance. Regular exercise and physical activity are the cornerstone of good health, especially as we grow older. This is common knowledge, as reiterated by numerous health studies conducted by major global institutions. These studies show that physical activity and longevity are directly corelated as an active lifestyle helps delay the degenerative process. Naturally, this would have a positive effect on an individual’s physical and mental wellbeing in the long run,” she remarked.

 

HE Mariam Al Qatari, Director General of Sharjah Senior Citizens Home, thanked Al Naqbi and the SWSF staff for their thoughtful gesture, saying the activity demonstrates the Foundation’s eagerness to support the overall wellbeing all segments of society, especially its older members, throughout the year.

 

She said: “The participation of older people along with SWSF’s young women has contributed to strengthening the active spirit in them and motivated them to continue exercising regularly. This underscores SWSF’s leadership and eagerness to engage all segments of society within an integrated sporting system that encourages them to adopt healthy lifestyles, reducing the risk of disease. We hope the activity has had left a good impact on our patrons.”

 

SWSF was established under an Emiri decree in November 2016 by His Highness Sheikh Dr. Muhammad bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council Ruler of Sharjah. Chaired by Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, wife of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah, the foundation strives to empower national athlete women and develop human capital in the field of women sport. It also seeks to create a talented generation of women leaders in the field of sport, encourage women participation in different sports, promote sports as a culture and provide a stimulating environment that contributes to elevating women’s sport.