The Youth and Sports Portfolio organised its annual Games during the month of Ramadan which were held in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Al Ain. Approximately 250 participants from different age groups participated in the multisport competition, which took place from 27 May to 22 June, 2017. Participants competed in bowling, carom, chess, FIFA 2017, foosball, human foosball, pool, scrabble, squash, table tennis and tennis.
The Summer Games aims to encourage individuals of all ages and backgrounds within the United Arab Emirates to engage in sports and sports-based competitions. The tournament takes place during Ramadan, after Iftar. This is a time of year when people are generally in a more spiritual mindset and there is an opportunity to work towards holistic upliftment, combining the mind, body, and soul. The sports offered during the competition, have been identified to help to reinvigorate the mind and help rehabilitate the body. The Summer Games during the month of Ramadan has become a tradition within the community over the last five years, and each year, it has become stronger and more successful.
“It is a beautiful time of the year for our members to come together and play sports with their Ismaili brothers and sisters in an environment that is both welcoming and competitive. It’s quite encouraging to see new faces with each passing year and that gives us the satisfaction that the competition has become one of the highlight events of the year. With the addition of new sports such as tennis and human foosball this year, we are increasing the number of sports available for the Jamat to participate in. Shukar, the response has been very positive and we look forward to improving our offering even more next year," explained Zishan Iqbal, lead of the Games.
Engaging in sports activities is essential to every individual’s health: keeping this in mind, the Ismaili community encourages a healthy lifestyle by promoting sports. The Games offer community members an opportunity to come together and build bonds, leading to more hours spent in The Ismaili Centre and increased interaction with fellow community members over a competitive platform. “It's a special tournament. It’s something many look forward to being a part of. The first rounds are very tricky, but once you get past that, you’re representing your Jamat in the knockouts, and that’s a wonderful feeling,” says Sahil Parpia, one participant.
