07-31-2009, 09:11 AM
Asia supports bodybuilders:
„GULF NEWS“
UAE bodybuilders boosted by better backing
Dubai What's it like to have two jobs and both involve guiding the destiny of a sport?
Ask Osama Ahmad Al Shafar, President of the Asian Body Building Federation and President of the UAE Body Building Association.
"I have some very capable people working with me. We are all one team and we have one common goal," Al Shafar added.
"We have the full backing of the Ministry [General Authority of Youth and Sport Welfare] and each of the builders now have an official letter of condonation to stay away from work as they are representing their country," said Al Shafar.
This was certainly not the case a little over a year ago when competitors found it difficult to secure time off work to represent the country.
"Now we give each of the athletes a monthly allowance of Dhs3000 for their upkeep. This amount is besides the regular salary that they draw from their jobs," said Al Shafar.
These changes have brought in a transformation of the mind-set of the athletes.
"They are confident, they have a lot more self-belief and they are willing to give something back to the country," said the president.
At the Asian level, smaller countries such as Mongolia, Myanmar, Vietnam, Kazakhstan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Indonesia have been getting the full technical and financial backing from the ABBF.
„GULF NEWS“
UAE bodybuilders boosted by better backing
Dubai What's it like to have two jobs and both involve guiding the destiny of a sport?
Ask Osama Ahmad Al Shafar, President of the Asian Body Building Federation and President of the UAE Body Building Association.
"I have some very capable people working with me. We are all one team and we have one common goal," Al Shafar added.
"We have the full backing of the Ministry [General Authority of Youth and Sport Welfare] and each of the builders now have an official letter of condonation to stay away from work as they are representing their country," said Al Shafar.
This was certainly not the case a little over a year ago when competitors found it difficult to secure time off work to represent the country.
"Now we give each of the athletes a monthly allowance of Dhs3000 for their upkeep. This amount is besides the regular salary that they draw from their jobs," said Al Shafar.
These changes have brought in a transformation of the mind-set of the athletes.
"They are confident, they have a lot more self-belief and they are willing to give something back to the country," said the president.
At the Asian level, smaller countries such as Mongolia, Myanmar, Vietnam, Kazakhstan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Indonesia have been getting the full technical and financial backing from the ABBF.
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