Under the patronage of HRH Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, Wife of HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai.
A community Sports Day took place on the 25th April 2009 at Zabeel Park as part of the national awareness campaign to fight Child Obesity: The Fat truth. The event was attended by HE Ali Mehad Al Suwaidi, Educational Advisor Ministry of Education, Mr. Ahmad Abdel-Rahman, Head of Students Activities Department at the Ministry of Education, Dr. Haya Bint Saifan , Head of Public Schools Support Services and Ms. Noura Al Matawa, Manager/Extra Curricular & Special Needs Education from KHDA in addition to representatives from the Ministry of Health and UNICEF.
The Community Sports Day was organized by The Ministry of Health, The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), The Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) and Princess Haya Initiative for the Development of Health, Physical Education & School Sports and Dubai Municipality; in a continuing effort to spread the messages on the risks of childhood obesity across the United Arab Emirates’ vast community.
This was a dedicated event for families and children to enjoy a fun physical activity day out to raise awareness on healthy lifestyle and benefit from nutritional advice. Families and students of all age groups attended and participated in the exciting activities and competitions including: Family Walk and running competition; Biking Tour; Volley Ball; Badminton, Rope Pulling, physical exercises with Fitness First and acrobatic performances on the Park’s theatre by school students; Winners of the various competitions won exciting sports prizes offered by KHDA with the aim to encourage physical activities beyond the community sports day.
Children and parents enjoyed fresh apples, mineral water and healthy meals including guiding tips on how to pack healthy lunches for children, offered respectively by Abu Seedo Trading Est. Fitness First and The Right Bite
The Fat Truth campaign is supported by UNICEF’s strategic partner the General Women’s Union, WHO, the Ministry of Education and Princess Haya initiative for the Development Health, Physical education and school sports.
The Community Day Partners are Virgin Mega Store, Right Bite, Fitness First, My Gym and Spears Publishing.
Media Partners include: Dubai Media Incorporated and Nickelodeon, in addition to Motivate Publishing, ITB Publishing, MediaQuest, Saydati wa Tefluki, Jeeran, Maktoob and 7Days.