By Liam Morgan

Both young and old were given awards at the prestigious ceremony in Dubai ©Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum Creative Sports AwardsSheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al-Maktoum was awarded the Local Creative Sportsperson award at the prestigious Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum Creative Sports Awards ceremony in Dubai tonight.

The chairman of the Emirates Airline and President of Dubai Department of Civil Aviation was given the prize for the prominent role of his company in sponsoring football clubs and generally supporting the sports process.

Joel Bouzou, founder and President of Peace and Sport Organisation, accepted the award of World Creative Sportsperson on behalf of Prince Albert II of Monaco, who was unable to attend the ceremony in person.

Meanwhile the International Hockey Federation scooped the International Creative Organisation award following their successful staging of the 2014 Rabobank Hockey World Cup in The Hague, Netherlands.

Both the men's and women's tournament were played simultaneously, and there was also a masters event, a youth and beach hockey tournament.

Over 260,000 spectators came to the hockey extravaganza, while television coverage spanning 120 hours was broadcast to 190 countries.

"We are delighted that the Mohamed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Creative Sports Awards has recognised our work on the 2014 Rabobank World Cup," FIH President Leandro Neagre said.

"It was a phenomenal effort from everyone involved in the organisation of the competitions, which led to a fantastic two weeks of hockey."

The winners of the Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum Creative Sports award were given their prizes at a glittering ceremony in DubaiThe winners of the Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum Creative Sports award were given their prizes at a glittering ceremony in Dubai ©Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Creative Sports Award



Faisal Fahad Ahmed Al-Ketbi took the Local Creative Athlete prize for attaining the world's title of the Jujitsu Professionals 2014, while the the UAE Handball National Team has been awarded as the Local Creative Team following their qualification for the 2015 World Cup in Qatar.

Egypt's Rania Elwani was given the Arab Creative Sportswoman for her continued contribution to enrich women's sport.

Elwani is a member of the International Agency for Doping Control and was a member of the International Olympic Committee Athletes' Commission between 2004 and 2012.

The Arab Creative Team prize was won by the Saudi Football National Team for Special Needs, while there was more success for football as Mohammed Rawrawah, President of the Algerian Football Association, was named as winner of the Arab Creative Administrator award.

Algerian Jamal Haimodi was also awarded the Arab Creative Referee Award for his superb performance at the FIFA World Cup in Brazil. 

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


Related stories
January 2015: 
Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum award selection process to be reviewed at Creative Forum