|
 |
|
|
|
|
UAE Wins FIA Worldwide Motor Sport Volunteer Award
The UAE’s success in training motor sport marshals to operate at the top level has been underlined by the news that UAE national Mohammed Al Shatri has been named by the FIA, the sport’s governing body, as the worldwide Volunteer of the Year for 2012.
|
|
|
The highly prestigious award is in recognition of Al Shatri’s outstanding work as head of the team of UAE national volunteers which makes a significant contribution to the overall marshalling of motor sport in the country by the Automobile and Touring Club of the UAE.
This was highlighted during the 2012 F1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in November when 15% of the 700 marshals used to ensure the smooth and safe running of the event were UAE nationals.
Al Shatri, a 24-year-old from Abu Dhabi, has been participating as a marshal with the ATCUAE since 2009 and has played a key role in helping to recruit other UAE nationals as volunteers. He said: “I am very honoured that the UAE should win this award and I am proud of the growing role of Emiratis and the UAE in the planning and delivery of world class motorsport events.”
It is the second year in succession that the FIA award has been won by a UAE volunteer. Alan Rooke, head of the ATCUAE’s highly specialised F1 Grand Prix recovery team, was the recipient last year.
ATCUAE President Dr. Mohammed Ben Sulayem, the FIA Vice President, said today: “Mohammed Al Shatri has shown great leadership and dedication throughout the year, and through his own example he has brought out the best in our team of UAE marshals.
“He thoroughly deserves the FIA award, which not only recognises his individual contribution but also underlines the great progress we have made in motor sport volunteerism in the UAE in such a short period of time.”
Al Shatri is one of more than 1,000 volunteers of many nationalities who form the membership of the UAE Motorsport Marshals Club, which was set up by the ATCUAE in 2009 to manage and promote the growth of a national framework of motorsport officials and run events. Since then more than 30 training sessions have been staged for marshals.
The setting up of the Marshals Club was part of a five-year plan to make the country fully self-sufficient in motor sport marshalling. This goal was achieved two years ahead of schedule with the help of Takatof, the voluntary social programme designed by the Emirates Foundation for Youth Development to create a culture of volunteering. The ATCUAE and Takatof worked together to successfully recruit and manage a committed team of UAE national volunteers.
“We are fortunate to have such a loyal, hard working team of marshals who are made up of many nationalities but work in harmony throughout the year to keep our events running safely and efficiently,” said Dr Sulayem.
“It is vital that UAE nationals should play an important role to ensure a bright future for UAE motor sport, and Mohammed typifies the spirit of our marshals who are driven by a sense of national pride and a desire to serve and give back to their country.”
PaddockTalk Perspective
|
|
|
| |
|
