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The General Secretariat of the Executive Council (GSEC), the local executive authority of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, is leading ten corporate community teams that are set to kick against Diabetes in the upcoming Ramadan football tournament to be held in the capital.
GSEC has given its full support to the seven-a-side tournament, dubbed I PLAY SPORTS, and is onboard as the tournament’s Title Sponsor.
I PLAY SPORTS is the fifth activity of ‘DIABETES.KNOWLEDGE.ACTION’, the award-winning public health awareness campaign from Imperial College London Diabetes Centre (ICLDC), under the patronage of HH Shaikha Fatima bint Mubarak and in partnership with Emirates Foundation.
The community football tournament will run from September 9 over four evenings supported by the host venue, Abu Dhabi’s Zayed Sports City, and Capitala.
Numerous leading brand names have followed GSEC’s move and jumped onboard to play a role in the event. Mubadala, and Dolphin Energy are confirmed as joint Official Sponsors. Meanwhile, ALDAR is confirmed as the event’s Platinum Sponsor, with Abu Dhabi Aircraft Technologies as Silver Sponsor and Injazat Data Systems as Bronze Sponsor. The Health Authority-Abu Dhabi and The Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (SEHA) are both named as Media Sponsors. The UAE’s national airline, Etihad Airways, CCC and Exxon Mobil are all named as tournament Donor.
The ten teams, representing each of the sponsor companies plus ICLDC and Takatof Voluteers, will take part in the corporate community event which is geared to raise public awareness of Diabetes, and to highlight the positive effects of exercise in helping to combat the debilitating disease.
His Excellency Dr. Mugheer Al Khaili, Deputy Secretary General, GCSE said: “We recognise the need for such an awareness campaign in the UAE today as we look towards a bright future and the good health of our youth and children.
“I PLAY SPORTS is a fitting example of how the community can help raise awareness of the importance of exercise, and how regular exercise can help protect against Diabetes.”
ICLDC’s Consultant Endocrinologist and Medical & Research Director, Dr Maha Taysir Barakat said that it is important to lead at least a moderately active lifestyle.
“Team sport, such as football, is an excellent way of increasing physical activity, while also having fun,” she said, adding that just 30-minutes of exercise, five days a week will significantly help in the fight against Diabetes. This includes a brisk walk for those unable to participate in a team sport.
“The I PLAY SPORTS Ramadan football tournament will help keep Diabetes in the spotlight, while drawing attention to the importance of exercise,” Dr Maha said.
Diabetes is a condition currently affecting an estimated one in five people in the UAE, and nearly 250 million people, worldwide. However, what is not well-recognised is that regular exercise can protect people against developing type 2 Diabetes.
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