54 Countries to Take Part in 2022 Paralympic Shooting World Championships

Under the generous patronage of H.H. Sheikh Nahyan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Zayed Charitable & Humanitarian Foundation (ZayedCHF), the Emirate of Abu Dhabi hosts, for the first time on the level of the Middle East & North Africa (MENA), the 2022 Paralympic Shooting World Championships in the city of Al Ain at Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting & Golf Club over the period 3-17 November, as organized by Zayed Higher Organization for People of Determination (ZHO), in cooperation and coordination with the International Paralympic Shooting Association and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC).

54 countries from the various continents of the world have confirmed their participation in the competitions of the tournament, represented by 540 participants, including 259 athletes (214 males and 82 females), accompanied with their coaches, the heads of delegations, and specialized and qualified shooting referees from the UAE and abroad, competing in 41 various competitions for teams and individuals for both men and women in air guns, fire guns, air rifles and fire rifles (Siktoon) in various distances and positions, in addition to shotgun shooting, while the tournament will witness, for the first time, the enlistment of accredited official shooting competitions for the blind category.

The International Committee has allocated 31 cards to qualify their holders of competing shooters in the various enlisted competitions to take part directly in the competitions of Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, a thing which increases the significance of the tournament and the keenness of international champions to take part in its competitions.

His Excellency Abdullah Abdul Aali Al Humaidan, Secretary-General of Zayed Higher Organization for People of Determination (“ZHO”), stressed that hosting and organizing the tournament in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi for the first time at the level of Middle East and North Africa, represents confidence and responsibility placed by the International Paralympic Shooting Federation and the International Paralympic Committee on the Emirate and the United Arab Emirates to come up with an organization worthy of successes achieved in organizing and hosting many sporting events, including five previous World Paralympic Shooting Championships.

He stressed that the successes achieved by people of determination in all regional and international sports forums are the fruit of the interest of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, May God protect him, the main supporter of sports for people of determination, by providing all the success factors for the will knights who have not fallen short of expectations, which confirms that they have great capacity to take the path of achievements, and raise the state flag on the podiums.

He pointed out that His Highness Sheikh Khalid bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the ZHO’s Board of Directors, is closely following the steps being taken by all committees to come up with an organization that reflects the capacities of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and the UAE, and showcases our national cadres that have international experience and capabilities. He also expressed wishes that our national team champions would achieve good results in the championship competitions, and qualify for the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games.

H.E. Abdullah Ismail Al Kamali, ZHO’s Executive Director of the People of Determination Sector and the Chairman of the Higher Tournament Organizing Committee, appreciated the care extended by our wise leadership, represented by H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the President of the UAE (May Allah Protect Him), and His Brother, H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice-President of the UAE, the Prime Minister, and the Ruler of Dubai (May Allah Protect Him), and Their Brothers, the Rulers of the UAE, to the Emirati individual and the building of the Emirati individual as a primary pillar for renaissance and advancement, so that such care would include all the categories of the UAE society in general, and the people of determination in particular.He confirmed, during the press conference: “The tournament enjoys a large attention and direct instructions of H.H. Sheikh Khalid bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Chairman of ZHO’s Board of Directors, and the care for an organization that expresses the abilities of the people of the UAE by the dedication of all capabilities for hosting the competitions of the tournament, as well as the hosting and organization of several international sport events, representing the large trust enjoyed by the Emirate and the UAE.” H.E. Abdullah Al Kamali added: “This large world event on the sporting level of the people of determination will witness a competition between the best shooters of the world in order to win a card of the 31 qualification cards allocated by the International Committee for taking part in Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, a thing which promises us to expect a large and outstanding tournament. We hope that the shooters of the UAE will achieve good results and that everybody will qualify to Paris Games, in the light of the outstanding results achieved by our national paralympic shooting team in all the international competitions of this sport.” The Chairman of the Higher Tournament Organizing Committee conveyed the utmost gratitude and appreciation to H.H. Sheikh Nahyan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Chairman of Abu Dhabi Sports Council (ADSC), for His Highness’s patronage of the tournament, and gratitude to the officials of the Council, which is ZHO’s strategic partner, and its Secretary-General, for the ongoing coordination with ZHO for the organization and hosting of several significant sport events, while he stated: “ADSC’s follow-up provides the appropriate atmosphere for supporting the development of the sport amongst this category and helps to expand the sport base of the people of determination.”

His Excellency ZHO’s Executive Director of the People of Determination Sector and the Chairman of the Higher Tournament Organizing Committee offered gratitude to all the sponsoring companies, organizations and entities that are supporting and sponsoring the tournament and that are greatly contributing to the success of all the events being organized by ZHO, especially the sport events. He said: “This initiative stems from the national feeling of such entities to support sport in general and to support the sports of the people of determination in particular.

 The sponsors are: most importantly, Abu Dhabi Sports Council (ADSC), ZHO’s strategic partner and governmental sponsor, and the General Authority of Sports (GAS), the General Headquarters of Abu Dhabi Police, Abu Dhabi Civil Defense (ADCD), the Department of Culture & Tourism (DCT) – Abu Dhabi, the UAE Paralympic Committee, Al Ain Water, Al Fo’ah Dates, Ramasat Perfume, Emirates Transport, an ambitious healthcare company, and Al Baddad Tents.

 On his part, Mohammed Rashid Al-Nasiri, General Manager of Al Ain Equestrian and Shooting Golf Club, says: Sheikh Zayed bin Hamad Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Al Ain Equestrian and Shooting Club, welcomes the members of the Board of Directors

 Hosting the 2022 World Cup for People of Determination from November 3 to November 18, in partnership with Zayed Higher Organization and Abu Dhabi Sports Council. We welcome all participating countries

The club’s chairman directed to put all the club’s capabilities at the disposal of the tournament organizers and participants to host this global event to bring it out in a picture befitting the United Arab Emirates

And with each championship there are new challenges, but thanks to cooperation, communication and hard work, we are able to achieve the best results and raise the name of the country to continue its leadership in shooting in particular and sports in general

Our annual relationship with the Zayed Higher Organization dates back to 2016 and we look forward to expanding and developing our partnership year after year

This year we have more than 270 bowlers from 54 countries competing for the first places. We would like to congratulate all the athletes for choosing Al Ain and the club to represent their countries and we firmly believe that every competitor is a winner in this tournament

From her side, Jeslin Breeze, the Chairperson of the Technical Committee of the World Paralympic Shooting Championships, expressed her gratitude and appreciation to the government and the people of the UAE and the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and to ZHO for agreeing to organize and host the competitions of the tournament. She said: “2022 Paralympic Shooting World Championships, which will be hosted by the Emirate of Abu Dhabi in the city of Al Ain, is the best ending of the sport seasons and is one of the most important competitions looked forward to by the International Shooting Committee in its annual agenda for the current year, thanks to the excellence of Abu Dhabi and ZHO in hosting a series of world cup championships over the past years in a welcoming atmosphere in the UAE.”

From their side, the world champions who confirmed their participation and keenness to be there in the city of Al Ain to take part in the competitions of the tournament, gave photographed messages via social networking media, welcoming the organization of the tournament by the Emirate of Abu Dhabi in the city of Al Ain. They confirmed that the tournament will witness a tough competition amongst male and female athletes for clinching the qualification cards to Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. They also applauded the fine reception and the professional organization of the series of the past championships hosted by the UAE as organized by ZHO.

 The participating countries are: Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Spain, Finland, France, Britain, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Indonesia, India, Iran, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, South Korea, Latvia, Luxemburg, Mexico, North Macedonia, Norway, New Zealand, Panama, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, Slovenia, Serbia, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Slovakia, Sweden, Chinese Taipei, Turkey, Ukraine, Uruguay, USA, Korea, Uzbekistan, and UAE.