The 2016 Rio Olympics begin on August 5. This article is part of The National Sport preview coverage of the UAE contingent, which will consist of 13 athletes competing in multiple events.
Rio, it is safe to say, was not on Nada Al Bedwawi’s mind.
Tokyo 2020 was the real target for the 19-year-old swimmer but she now has an early chance to mingle with and learn from the world’s best swimmers.
Al Bedwawi is one of two swimmers in the UAE’s Olympics squad, along with the 20-year-old Yaqoub al Saadi, who will compete in the 50-metre and 100m backstroke events.
Al Bedwawi is a wildcard entry in the 50m freestyle event, a development she was apprised of only a few months ago.
“At first I was targeting the Olympics in 2020, I was working to that, but just did not think it would come this soon,” she said before leaving for Rio.
More UAE Olympic preview coverage
• Rio 2016: The National's coverage of the Olympics
• Osman Samiuddin: Rio 2016 – UAE's team will be the country's largest Olympic contingent
• Ahmed Rizvi: Rio 2016 – Weight of expectations lie easy on shoulders of UAE's Aisha Al Balooshi
These Games hold a greater significance for her as she will be the UAE’s flagbearer at the opening ceremony on Friday.
“I was really happy and really shocked to be going to Rio. Most of all I’m really honoured to be going to represent my country and secondly I’m even more honoured to be the flagbearer at the ceremony.”
Al Bedwawi currently fits swimming in alongside a busy academic life – she is studying for a biology degree at NYU Abu Dhabi. But once she graduates, in 2019, she hopes to devote her entire gap year to training for Tokyo.
Al Saadi, who holds the national record in the 50m and 100m backstroke, is a product of the Al Ain club, where he lives and does all of his training.
His coaches see him as a potential champion and last year, at the GCC Swimming Championship in Dubai, won three golds.
“My ambition is to be an Arab champion,” Al Saadi said in an interview last year. “My parents have really supported me. They are always present at every competition.”
Al Bedwawi is hoping to meet her role models Katie Ledecky and the Egyptian Farida Osman at Rio.
“In Rio, I’m just hoping to represent my country in the best way possible, to break down the barriers and pave the way for other Emirati girls to take up swimming.”
osamiuddin@thenational.ae
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RESULT
Bayer Leverkusen 2 Bayern Munich 4
Leverkusen: Alario (9'), Wirtz (89')
Bayern: Coman (27'), Goretzka (42'), Gnabry (45'), Lewandowski (66')
School counsellors on mental well-being
Schools counsellors in Abu Dhabi have put a number of provisions in place to help support pupils returning to the classroom next week.
Many children will resume in-person lessons for the first time in 10 months and parents previously raised concerns about the long-term effects of distance learning.
Schools leaders and counsellors said extra support will be offered to anyone that needs it. Additionally, heads of years will be on hand to offer advice or coping mechanisms to ease any concerns.
“Anxiety this time round has really spiralled, more so than from the first lockdown at the beginning of the pandemic,” said Priya Mitchell, counsellor at The British School Al Khubairat in Abu Dhabi.
“Some have got used to being at home don’t want to go back, while others are desperate to get back.
“We have seen an increase in depressive symptoms, especially with older pupils, and self-harm is starting younger.
“It is worrying and has taught us how important it is that we prioritise mental well-being.”
Ms Mitchell said she was liaising more with heads of year so they can support and offer advice to pupils if the demand is there.
The school will also carry out mental well-being checks so they can pick up on any behavioural patterns and put interventions in place to help pupils.
At Raha International School, the well-being team has provided parents with assessment surveys to see how they can support students at home to transition back to school.
“They have created a Well-being Resource Bank that parents have access to on information on various domains of mental health for students and families,” a team member said.
“Our pastoral team have been working with students to help ease the transition and reduce anxiety that [pupils] may experience after some have been nearly a year off campus.
"Special secondary tutorial classes have also focused on preparing students for their return; going over new guidelines, expectations and daily schedules.”
Brief scoreline:
Al Wahda 2
Al Menhali 27', Tagliabue 79'
Al Nassr 3
Hamdallah 41', Giuliano 45 1', 62'
