Al Noor Centre Indoor Sports Facility
Sports facility for special needs
By Jamil Khan @ Gulf Today-Sharjah, April 26, 2010
Children with special needs as well as professional players from various sports disciplines will have a spanking new facility as Al Noor Centre for Children with Special Needs opened its “Al Noor Indoor Sports Facility” in its Al Barsha premises in Dubai on Saturday.
The inauguration was done by Sheikh Mohammed Bin Maktoum Bin Juma Al Maktoum along with a number of dignitaries belonging to different walks of life.
The facility has been set up in partnership with the Ahdaaf Sports Club and will serve football, basketball, volleyball, cricket, table tennis and badminton players.
The inaugural session witnessed an exhibition football and basketball match between the children and staff of Al Noor and Ahdaaf Sports Club. A dance performance by children with special needs of the centre followed thereafter.
Shedding light on the objectives of the new facility, Isphana Al-Khatib, Director of Al Noor Centre said that the unique partnership between the Al Noor and Ahdaaf Sports Club is to meet the demands of having an indoor sports facility for the community. “With its customised features, the Al Noor Indoor Sports Facility provides a place of recreation and sport for individuals, families and businesses,” she added.
She also mentioned that the centre has collaborated with Ahdaaf Sports Club on this project and it is one of the newest sports club in Dubai, which has been established with the support of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Establishment for Young Business Leaders. “The Club has indoor fields laid with artificial turf, which it rents out to football teams and institutions. In addition, the club also organises tournaments and training sessions for youth to learn football techniques and skills.”
Al-Khatib said that this collaboration with Ahdaaf Sports Club will not only raise funds for Al Noor, but will also encourage businesses, organisations and the community members to visit the centre, thus creating awareness for the cause of special needs.
She mentioned that the centre which has currently over 300 students with different type of disabilities does have its share of financial problems but with philanthropists coming forward, the the centre has been able to provide highly subsidised services at international standards.
Al-Khatib requested all segments of society to join them in this noble cause and raise awareness regarding the children with special needs.
Yousuf AL Hashmi, representative of Ahdaaf Sports Club, while speaking to the gathering said that the new indoor sports facility in Al Noor is a reflection of Dubai government’s vision to provide recreational facilities to all segments of society.
He said that this facility will not only used as a fund-raising project but the contribution of individuals and corportate sectors for their sports activities will also help to create awareness about children with special needs.
He mentioned that professional players from Ahdaaf will train young people with special needs in the field of sports management besides providing opportunities to all individuals with special needs to realise their potential and integrate them into the wider community.
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