Al Bustan Centre and Residences houses athletes of the 6th Fazza IPC World Cup Dubai 2015

Al Bustan Centre & Residence, the popular hotel-apartment among tourists and businessmen in the heart of Dubai, became the home for the world’s elite athletes of the recently concluded 6^th Fazza IPC Powerlifting World Cup Dubai 2015.  

The tournament held at the Dubai Club from 12^th – 19^th March saw the participation of 133 athletes from 24 countries such as Azerbaijan, Jordan, Algeria, Iraq, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Ireland, Thailand, Egypt, Slovakia, Syria, France, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Nigeria, Netherlands, India, Mongolia, Poland, Ukraine, Turkmenistan, Hungary, Ivory Coast and the host country, UAE.

Highlights of the event include Egyptian athletes Zeinab Oteify and Nawal Ramadan snatching gold for the Women Open 41 and 45 categories respectively, along with Ukraine’s Lidlia Soloviova in the opening session. Mozah Alzeyoudi of Khorfakan Club for Disabled became the first Emirati to step on the podium bagging a bronze medal in the Women Open 50 event.

Sherif ‘Ironnman’ Othman of Egypt was the crowd’s favorite on the second day of the competition as he breaks world record in the 59 kg category while five-time Paralympic medalist Mathana added gold in her list as she placed first in the 80kg category.

#proudparalympians was also launched during the duration of the competition. The pilot educational program aims to raise awareness about the Paralympic Movement through the UN convention helping athletes become stronger competitors, individuals and citizens, inspiring others to participate in sports, having more equal opportunities for people with impairments.  

Thani Juma Berregad, Chairman of the Supreme Organizing Committee Fazza’ Championships and Majid Abdullah Al Usaimi, Executive Director at the Dubai Club for the Disabled and Director of Fazza Championship for the Disabled said: “Our objective in holding this annual event is to reflect the cultural heritage of the country. Giving attention to the disabled was very crucial in expressing the country’s civilization because it played a major role in planting the seeds of confidence among those who are disabled and raising the awareness on how others look at them when they become achievers.”

Moussa El Hayek, COO said: “The management and all the staff of Al Bustan Residence would like to extend their gratitude and appreciation to the organizers of this sporting event for selecting our hotel to host the delegates. Our newly renovated property offered the facilities that are convenient to the delegates so they will have a comfortable and enjoyable stay.”

The group occupied 129 rooms of the hotel, for the preparation as workshops and seminars were given for the competitors and technical officials.  

The annual event, held under the patronage of Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Sports Council, was organized and supervised by the Hamdan Bin Mohammad Heritage Center and Dubai Club for the Disabled.