The first ever tandem event, over 220km coast to coast, was successfully completed on Friday, February 16th, 2007.
The team of sighted and visually impaired cyclists received a warm welcome from a big crowd of supporters at Le Meridien Al Aqah Beach Resort in Fujairah where they ended their 9 hour cycle ride. The 9 visually impaired riders cycled with a sighted “captain” in relay on specially imported tandems - made possible by sponsorship provided by Emirates Bank. The initiative will enable local people who are partially sighted and blind to participate in a new sport as the tandems will have a permanent home at the Emirates Association of the Blind in Sharjah.
The ride started at 6.00 am at Le Meridien Mina Seyahi where Emirates Bank C.E.O., Rick Pudner gave his encouragement. “I wish all the cyclists good luck and hope they have a successful and enjoyable ride after the weeks of training they have put in to make this happen.” The team was made up of members of the Emirates Association of the Blind, Foresight and Tamkeen and cycling enthusiasts from Dubai.
Apart from the training sessions around the back roads of Nad Al Sheba, this was the first time that many of the riders who are visually impaired had ventured out on the roads of the U.A.E. About 25 experienced cyclists rode single road bikes in a group around the tandems to ensure maximum safety and to give their support. The group swelled to over 100 for the first leg of the journey as a local cycling club accompanied them from Safa Park to Academic City.
“It was really hard work,” said said Adel Al-Zamar, Vice President of the Emirates Association of the Blind, who was one of the “stokers” on the tandems. “It was also exhilarating to be part of the team going at speed on the open road.” Christina Fasser, President of Retina International travelled to Dubai especially to join the event. “I have cycled many times in Switzerland but never through a desert.” Christina is blind through Retinitis Pigmentosa.
The cyclists made good time at first averaging over 30km per hour speeds but slowed when they reached the mountainous parts of the route. They received a police escort for the latter half of the route which was really appreciated. All agreed it had been a lot of fun and were glad of the delicious spread provided by Le Meridien Al Aqah Beach Resort. “It was wonderfully gratifying for the staff at Al Aqah to welcome all the cyclists to the hotel after their inspiring journey. Corporate social responsibility has always been a top priority for us and we will continue to support worthy causes like Foresight in their endeavour to add a little light to people’s lives,” said Patrick Antaki, General Manager, Le Meridien Al Aqah Beach Resort.
Support vehicles were from Hertz who have provided transport throughout the training and event for the visually impaired members of the team and the tandems.
Le Meridien Al Aqah Beach Resort hosted a welcome reception for the team, their supporters and families, with a menu specially designed by executive chef Suzanne Ayer Storms to help replace lost energy. Medals were presented by Ibrahim Sowaidan, Group Affairs, who reiterated praise for those involved in this community activity supported by his organisation, Emirates Bank. “We are proud to be part of this unique event that has benefits throughout the sporting and local community.” Emirates Bank has generously donated funds to cover the purchase of the tandems and to Foresight for research into finding a cure for hereditary eye diseases, such as Retinitis Pigmentosa, that make people go blind.
HH Sheik Marwan Mohammed Hasher Al Maktoum sent his kind regards to all the cyclist on the event. Expertise and vital support has also been provided by Wolfgang Hohmann, owner of Wolfi’s Bike Shop.
About Foresight
Until recently untreatable, new progress in research means that cures for hereditary retinal diseases will be found. Our aim is to accelerate finding cures for retinal diseases such as Retinitis Pigmentosa. For some forms of retinal disease a cure could be found within 10 years. We offer support and information to people losing their sight through these diseases.
We also lobby to improve the lives of people who are visually impaired and blind in the U.A.E.
Foresight is a U.A.E-based non-profit making organisation and a branch of Tamkeen and an associate member of Retina International (which coordinates major retinal research internationally).
Tamkeen (the Arabic word for enabling) is a non-profit organisation, initiated by HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum for the training of visually impaired citizens of working age. This unique training centre provides professional training courses that aren’t found anywhere else in the U.A.E. All courses including transport are free of charge.
Tamkeen’s objective is to empower vision impaired U.A.E nationals and residents with practical, vocational skills to enable them to enter the modern workplace to become economic and socially independent citizens.
About Emirates Association for the Blind
The aim of EAB is to increase public awareness of the issues facing blind people; To strive towards providing them with training programs and services; Communicating with governmental officials and institutions for the purpose of providing laws and legislation that protect the rights of blind people as citizens entitled to job opportunities and training services provided by the government and national organisations; To improve the level of educational and vocational qualifications of blind people and those that work with them; To contribute to the efforts in conducting research about the problems and the needs of blind people, methods of providing care for them, the reasons for loss of vision, and prevention methods and their effectiveness; To contribute to the efforts for providing services and social benefits to blind individuals and groups who are not able to benefit completely from government services.
To contact Emirates Association for the Blind
Tel: +9716 5247700 E-mail: alzamar@emirates.net.ae
About Emirates Bank
Emirates Bank Group is a leading regional financial services conglomerate based in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. The Group services include Wholesale Banking through its Corporate Banking Units, Retail Banking through meBANKING distribution channels and Al Shaheen priority banking centers, as well as Treasury Services.
Emirates Bank Group also offers Islamic Banking through Emirates Islamic Bank, Investment Banking through Emirates Financial Services, Property Development through Union Properties, Insurance through National General Insurance, Card Processing through Network International, Brokerage Services through Emirates International Securities and Executive Training through Global Training Centre.
Emirates Bank Group was the first bank in the UAE to open a branch in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The Group owns 10% stake in Bank of Beirut and is a strategic shareholder in Al Baraka Banking Group. The Group also has a branch in London and representative offices in India, Iran and Singapore.
Emirates Bank Group enjoys a solid financial position and ranks among the top UAE banks in terms of total assets and profitability. The Group has an excellent rating by International Rating Agencies. It also has firm footing in the UAE community through its corporate social responsibility programs, particularly Al Tomooh scheme for supporting and financing small national enterprises.
For more information kindly contact Mr. Ibrahim Sowaidan, Group Marketing Manager, Emirates Bank Group, on Tel: 04-2092916 or mobile: 050-6538937.
About Wolfi’s Bike Shop
Wolfi opened his first cycling shop in Germany in 1987. In 2002 he set up his second in Dubai. With 15 years of cycling retail experience behind him (and having been a enthusiastic cyclist since a young age,) within a very short period of time WBS Dubai established itself as the place to go for everybody who wants to know about bikes from children to adults.
Today Wolfi’s is known as the place to go if you want to drop-in for a chat; gain some tips to improve your cycling; or get initial help and advice if buying a first bike for your child, an off road bike, a racing bike or a bike for recreational use.
WBS staff do all they can to meet the needs of both first time visitors as well as regular and loyal customers from Dubai and the rest of the UAE and GCC. WBS-Dubai prides itself on keeping up-to-date with the latest technology and news from the world of cycling and triathlon.
To contact Wolfi’s Bike Shop
Tel: +9714 3394453 E-mail: info@wbs.ae
About Le Meridien Al Aqah Beach Resort
Le Méridien Hotels & Resorts, with its portfolio of more than 130 luxury and upscale hotels in 53 countries worldwide, is owned by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. The majority of Le Méridien properties are located in the world's top cities and resorts throughout Europe, the Americas, Asia Pacific, Africa and the Middle East. In the 2005 Luxury Brand Status Index survey Le Méridien was recognised as one of the top 15 luxury hotel brands. For more information, please visit www.lemeridien.com.
About Starwood
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with approximately 850 properties in more than 95 countries and 145,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. Starwood® Hotels is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels and resorts with the following internationally renowned brands: St. Regis®, The Luxury Collection®, Sheraton®, Westin®, Four Points® by Sheraton, W®, Le Méridien® and the recently announced aloftSM and ELEMENTSM Hotels. Starwood Hotels also owns Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., one of the premier developers and operators of high quality vacation interval ownership resorts. For more information, please visit www.starwoodhotels.com.
