Arab, European countries contest for top spots on Day 2 of 6th Fazza International Athletics IPC Grand Prix Competition 2014

Scotland, Algeria, Cameroon bag gold in track racing

Dubai, 24 February, 2014: Day 2 of the 6th Fazza International Athletics IPC Grand Prix Competition 2014 continued at the Al Thiqa Club in Sharjah, with stiff competition among Arab and European countries.

Contestants competed in a range of events including wheelchair racing, long jump, javelin, discus, shot put, 100 m, 200m, 800m and 1500m track races.

The Championships are being organised by the Hamdan Bin Mohammed Heritage Center under the patronage of HH Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai.

Thani Juma Berregad - Chairman of the Supreme Organising Committee commented: “We saw some tough competition on Day 2 of the Grand Prix. We are very happy that the new rules implemented by the IPC have been benefiting several contestants especially in the visually disabled category. The number of participants has jumped from 300 last year to almost 500 this year.”

Meggan Dawson-Farrell, a Scottish national has won 2 bronze so far in this series of the Grand Prix in the track races. Her colleague Samantha Kinghorn won gold in the 800 m track racing. She commented: “I am quite happy with the track here in Dubai which is no different than the tracks we have back home for able bodied athletes.

She adds: “I am looking forward to competing in the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in July next. My message to young people who may have a disability is to never give up. Do not pass up any opportunity.”

Patrick Andeme Ndo from Cameroon won gold in the men’s 100m track race and was thrilled to win the second gold for his country. “I hope to keep returning to the Fazza Championships every year. We received a warm welcome in Dubai and are very excited to compete alongside other world champion athletes.”

Majid Abdullah Al Usaimi - Championship Director added: “We are happy to host such a prestigious event in the UAE. 26 countries participated in the competition last year and the number has grown to nearly 40 this year. We expect the scale and magnitude of this event to grow even larger by next year.”

After the 4 day series in Dubai, the Grand Prix moves to China, Brazil, the United States, Switzerland, Italy, Tunisia and Germany before culminating in the finals in the UK in August. The top eight athletes in each event will qualify for the finals in the UK.

The Grand Prix series will continue at Al Thiqa Club until 25 February 2014 from between 3.00 pm - 9.00 pm.

Participating Countries:
Tunisia; Slovakia; Nigeria; Greece; Saudi Arabia; Mexico; Japan; Scotland;  Great Britain; Algeria; Iraq; Azerbaijan; Germany; Bulgaria; Kazakhstan; Egypt; Kuwait; Qatar; Russia; Bahrain; Sweden; Thailand; Ireland; Brazil; Cameroon; Denmark; Jordan; Lithuania; Netherlands; Switzerland; Hong Kong; Gambia; India; Oman; Syria; Mauritius  and host nation the United Arab Emirates.