His Excellency Salem Youssef Al-Quseir, Chairman of the Labour Standards Development Authority in Sharjah, inaugurated on Friday, December 13, 2019, the Third Sharjah Labour Sports Tournament. Held by the authority in cooperation with the Sharjah Sports Council and Reach Target Company for sports services, the tournament’s opening day witnessed a large turnout and participation of workers and employees of the institutions of public and private sector.
The opening ceremony was also attended by Tariq Salem Al-Khanbashi, Founder and Director of Reach Target for Sports Services, and Omar Salem Al Sharji, Director of Support and Communications Department of the Labor Standards Development Authority in Sharjah, as well as officials of the companies participating in the tournament.
The tournament which will continue until the end of March 2020, will be held in the Sharjah Sports Council playgrounds in the Sharjah National Park, from seven in the morning until 5:30 pm, every Friday, during which the labour teams compete in five sports, namely football, basketball, Cricket, hockey and volleyball. The first day of the tournament witnessed intense competition the teams
His Excellency Salem Yousef El-Quseer, kicked off the ball opening the tournament with at the first football match. He said this tournament indicates the interest of Sharjah in the wellbeing of the workers and their entertainment, and making sport a healthy lifestyle for them. He added that this comes in line with guidance of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, to improve the work environment in Sharjah. Thus, the strategic plan of the Labour Standards Development Authority in Sharjah seeks to raise the level of sports and social awareness among all worker living on Sharjah land, he added.
Al Qasser pointed out: The Labour Sports Tournament reflects our keen interest in the Emirate of Sharjah to improve the work environment, through holding such important activities that boost the spirit of fair competition among workers and participating teams, from a large number of governmental and private institutions. Sports was and remains one of the most important means for spreading happiness and positive energy in society. We in the authority seek to increase these activities with the support of His Excellency Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah and Chairman of the Executive Council.
His Excellency Al Qaseer expressed his satisfaction over the success of the this tournament as witnessed in the first and second editions held in the past two years. He said: "This tournament, the first of its kind, also aims to promote teamwork among workers being the pillar of sports. The tournament, organized by the authority in cooperation with the Sharjah Sports Council and Reach Target Company for sports services, aims to enhance cooperation and to build bridges of acquaintance among workers and employers.” He added: “Sport brings together individuals and societies regardless of their nationalities and ethnicities. It plays an important role in developing a spirit of cooperation and competition, and promotes teamwork, and contributes to building bridges of acquaintance between all. These all are at the heart of the goals of LSDA under the direct supervision of His Excellency Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, Chairman of the Executive Council. Al Qaseer also extended his sincere thanks to all those who contributed to the success of the tournament, including sponsors, public and private institutions.
The concept of the tournament is based on holding several sports competitions among labor teams in five sports, where the number of registered teams were 120 divided as follows: on football 30, basketball 21, cricket 33, volleyball 21, and hockey 15 teams. On the sidelines of the tournament, a group of family activities will also be organized, in the audience areas, enabling families of employees and workers to cheer their teams. Play areas for children will also be designated under the supervision of qualified trainers who will offer them fitness, table tennis and soccer training sessions.
For his part, Tariq Salem Al-Khanbashi, founder and director of Reach Target, for sports services, thanked the Labour Standards Development Authority in Sharjah for its confidence and support of his company in organizing the festival, and for giving the opportunity for all workers to participate in the labour sports tournament. He said, "We are eager to do our best for having a perfect competition." He pointed out that Reach Target had started preparing for the championship months ago.