HHC set to launch 10th Fazza Summer Youlah Championship for Juniors

Preparations are in full swing for the tournament scheduled to begin on August 21 at Dubai Festival City Mall

• 80 participants from the UAE and the GCC have registered so far
• Presence of Emirati superstars to liven up the event
• Prizes worth AED 1 million up for grabs

 Hamdan Bin Mohammed Heritage Center (HHC) announced the start of preparations for the 2015 Fazza Summer Youlah Championship for Juniors, which will be held at Dubai Festival City Mall from 21 August, 2015. Registration is now open for participants under 14 years at the site of the championship, from 4pm to 8pm.

The Fazza Summer Youlah Championship for Juniors – held for the 10th consecutive year – aims to provide a platform for children to engage in traditional sports and activities that reflect the nation’s heritage. Participants will square off against each other in individual rounds that demonstrate their skill and ability in Youlah, one of the oldest Emirati traditional sports. The tournament serves as a valuable testing ground for contestants looking to take part in the Fazza Youlah Championship for adults in future.

The rules for the Fazza Summer Youlah Championship for Juniors were laid down 10 years ago – coinciding with the launch of Modhesh World in 2005 – upon the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, to launch a Youlah championship dedicated to juniors that highlight their talents and motivate them to excel in this important traditional sport.

On the occasion of the 10th edition of the tournament, Souad Ibrahim Darwish, Director of Fazza Championships at HHC, expressed her gratitude to the official sponsors of HHC – namely Al Tayer Motors, Land Rover, Al-Futtaim Group, Global Village and Al Oula Radio – for their support for the various heritage competitions and events organized by the Center. Noting that preparations are currently in full swing for this season’s tournament, she said: "The Fazza Summer Youlah Championship for Juniors has become an annual heritage festival that brings together a number of young leaders who are eager to follow in the footsteps of their ancestors. Last year, the championship witnessed performances by children as young as two-and-a-half years, and we are determined to provide every support and assistance we can to ensure that this season’s tournament surpasses previous editions in terms of quality of organization and level of performance. We thank the contestants' parents for giving their children the opportunity to participate in this important traditional sport and interact with other children their age."

"We have managed to attract juvenile competitors from all the Emirates as well as other GCC countries. In total, 80 contestants have registered for the tournament, which seeks to celebrate our heritage and encourage participating children to remain true to the national principles and cherish their roots. The idea is to help instill a sense of belonging in them and build their self-confidence, while providing an opportunity for them to invest their free time in the summer holidays in a practical and constructive way," she added.

The Fazza Summer Youlah Championship for Juniors 2015 will consist of eight rounds. Ten participants will compete in each round to showcase their skills and creativity in the field at the Festival Square, of whom two will qualify for the next stage. The finals will be held with the participation of four competitors.

Through its duration, the championship will host a number of popular Emirati musicians including Walid Ibrahim, Mohammed Al Menhali, Mohammed Al Mazroui and Moaded Al Kaabi, among others, with each round hosting a singer. The tournament runs until 4 September 2015.

Noting that the Fazza Championships are the richest heritage championships in the world, Souad Ibrahim Darwish said the Fazza Summer Youlah Championship for Juniors will offer an unprecedented prize pool, with the first place winner receiving a prize of AED 250,000 and the second and third place winners receiving AED 200,000 and AED 150,000 respectively. The winner of the fourth place takes home AED 100,000, while the winner of the Distinguished Yaweel (Youlah Performer) award stands to receive AED 50,000.

All rounds of the Fazza Summer Youlah Championship for Juniors p 2015 will be broadcast on Sama Dubai TV to enable the audience and lovers of this traditional sport follow the tournament from their homes.

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About Hamdan Bin Mohammed Heritage Center:

Hamdan Bin Mohammed Heritage Center is the foremost resource and reference on the conservation of national heritage in the United Arab Emirates. Its vision focuses the preservation, promotion and communication of national heritage to the younger generation of Emiratis at a regional and international level.

In addition, the Center organizes events and competitions as well as conducts heritage studies and specialized research on the preservation and documentation of the UAE's national heritage. The Center recently published its first book, "Al Mutawasif", authored by Abdullah bin Hamdan bin Dalmouk - CEO of Hamdan Bin Mohammed Heritage Center, which includes a large collection of Emirati proverbs that reflect the depth of the Emirati community spirit. The book also provides locally relevant sources and references for researchers and interested parties on various aspects of UAE culture.

The Hamdan Bin Mohammed Heritage Center serves as a platform for all cultural and heritage initiatives, tournaments and activities as conceptualized by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai. It seeks to consolidate Emirati identity and build its value among the younger generations. The Center promotes awareness of the values, customs and traditions inherent in UAE society, as well as encourages young Emirati participation in the preservation of their national identity.