Sheikha Maitha bint Mohammed bin Rashid has "no words" to describe her feelings about carrying the UAE flag at the opening ceremony at the Beijing Olympics. She is, however, confident it will spur her to reach for glory at the Games. Sheikha Maitha, 28, who will be competing in the 67kg taekwondo competition in Beijing, will lead the eight-member UAE contingent at the opening ceremony on Aug 8.
She has carried the UAE flag at the Pan-Arab Games in Algeria in 2004 and the 2006 Asian Games in Doha, where she won the silver medal in the over 60kg karate championship. "I have carried the UAE flag at many championships before, global and regional," she said. "But doing the same in Beijing is a different feeling - something completely different. "I am very proud of this honour, but it really difficult to express my exact feelings in words. I hope it gives me the motivation to continue my work and serve my country in all fields in the future."
Ibrahim Abdul Malik, the general secretary of the National Olympic Committee (NOC), feels the sight of Sheikha Maitha carrying the UAE flag will spur on a generation of women to excel in sport. "We are very proud as a UAE citizen, an Arab and a Muslim to see Sheikha Maitha carrying the flag," says Abdul Malik. "For the first time in the history of this region, a lady will be carrying the flag of her country at the Olympics.
"With this, we are sending a message to the females in the UAE and in this region that sport does not differentiate between males and females. Sport is for all the people; it is for those who want to work hard and get results. "Another message comes from the government side. When the daughter of the Vice-President and the Prime Minister takes part in the Olympics, carrying the flag, working hard and fighting for results - it is a message for everyone. The government is sending a message to the women in our society that they should take part in sport and they should follow Sheikha Maitha.
"It is also a message to the rest of the world that there is no difference between men and women in the UAE." Ahmed al Kamali, the president of the UAE Athletics Federation, expressed similar sentiments. "Sheikha Maitha will be carrying the UAE flag at the opening ceremony, and we - the sport administrators and people - are very proud of her and her achievements," he said. "You will not find many Arab women carrying the national flag at the Olympics."
@Email:arizvi@thenational.ae
