Secretary-General of the Arab Olympic Committees, Osman Al Saad was also selected as the Arab Sports figure of the year, and the President of the International Olympic Committee, Jacques Rogge was also selected as the International Sports figure of the year.
The selection of the winners of the fourth session’s categories was performed after arbitration of the candidates’ files, which witnessed a significant increase in the number of applicants at the level of United Arab Emirates and Arab states. This category has also witnessed a participation of files from the National Olympic Committees from around the world after opening the participation in the field of institutional creativity.
The total candidates reached (289) files, where (190) files on the local and Arab levels were included for the Award, (37) files of them were excluded for failing to complete the requirements of candidacy. (153) UAE and Arab files were arbitrated.
On the international level, (99) files of national Olympic committees were nominated, (82) files of them were excluded for failing to complete the requirements of candidacy, (17) files were nominated on the international level, so the total of the files that have been arbitrated were (170).
On the other hand, holding the ceremony honoring of the winners is scheduled to be on the 6th of next January, where preparations are taking place for that to make the event outstanding and distinctive, to commensurate with the importance of the Award as being the most important annual event in UAE and Arab World, where the Vice President of UAE, the Prime Minister, Ruler of Dubai, HH Shaikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum attends the event.