Tue, 30 Nov, -0001
Beirut: AFC President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa on Sunday attended the opening ceremony of the first phase of Michel Suleiman Sports Village in Jubail, in the northeast of Beirut City, in Lebanon.
The function was held under the patronage of Lebanese President Michel Suleiman in the presence of high-ranking officials, VIPs, sports representatives and invited guests.
Both President Michel Suleiman and Shaikh Salman inaugurated the first phase of the project, which includes a multi-purpose sports gym with a total capacity of 2,000 spectators in addition to a swimming pool.
They also laid down the founding stone of the second phase of the village, which will have an international football stadium with a 15,000 capacity.
Shaikh Salman and the Lebanese President then toured the facilities of the first phase of the village, which was established with support from Lebanese expatriate businessman Carlos Slim at a cost of $3 million.
Also during the ceremony, which took place at the main sports gym, Shaikh Salman delivered his speech, in which he expressed pleasure for sharing the people of Jubail this celebration.
Shaikh Salman said: ”We look at this modern sports facility as a gain for the sport movement in Lebanon in general and the district of Jubail in particular. We also stress that the support and follow-up of His Excellency General Michel Suleiman for this new project has had a noticeable impact on its implementation in this beautiful city, and attracting young Lebanese athletes, as well as contributing to the upgrading of Lebanese sport at all levels.”
Lebanese President Michel Suleiman then congratulated the people of Jubail on this occasion, pointing out that this project is an exciting boost to the developmental projects in the city and embodies the role of Lebanese businessmen and their distinctive contributions in the service of their country.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, Shaikh Salman presented an AFC pennant to President Michel Suleiman, who received a commemorative shield from the mayor of Jubail.
Shaikh Salman attends dinner
Shaikh Salman, meanwhile, attended a gala dinner held in his honour in the city of Amchit. It was also attended by President of the Lebanese Football Association Hashim Haider, the mayor of Amchit and a number of senior sports and government officials.
On the sidelines of the ceremony, the AFC President was keen to meet with a number of representatives of the Lebanese media and replied to their inquiries about the past plans and programmes of the AFC and its future aspirations.