UAE Embassy in Washington, DC Department of General Services refurbish Amphitheatre viewing area around park

Washington, D.C.: The Adams Morgan Community celebrated the dedication of a new state of the art soccer field and surrounding amphitheatre area yesterday at the Marie Reed Elementary School. The new field, located at the Marie Reed Elementary School in the heart of Adams Morgan, is a gift from the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates and DC Department of General Services (DGS) in partnership with DC Public Schools (DCPS). The new, all-weather artificial turf field is open to students at the school and the community at large for year-round play and programs. As part of the UAE Embassy gift, complimentary youth soccer coaching will also be provided for members of the community. DGS in partnership with DCPS also enhanced and refurbished the area surrounding the field, greatly improving the aesthetics and safety of the park. The event was attended by diplomatic and local officials including UAE Ambassador Yousef Al Otaiba, Vincent Gray, Mayor of Washington DC, Kaya Henderson, Chancellor of DCPS, Brian Hanlon, Director of DGS, and representatives from the US and local soccer communities including DC United, the varsity soccer programs of Georgetown University, American University, the University of the District of Columbia and local youth programmes DC SCORES, Bethesda Olney Soccer Club, District Sports, and Takoma Park Soccer Club. "I am extremely proud to dedicate this beautiful new field right here in the heart of Washington, DC," said UAE Ambassador to the United States Yousef Al Otaiba at the dedication ceremony. "Kids in Adams Morgan deserve to have a first-rate, safe place to play soccer. This field will provide enjoyment for years to come." "The District of Columbia is honoured to have worked with the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates to build this wonderful field for Marie Reed Elementary and the community at large," said Mayor Vincent C. Gray. The field will be a community asset that can be used by the students of Marie Reed as well as the community at-large. Local community soccer clubs and organisations plan to provide coaching, instruction, clinics and scheduled play on the field. "This will be a game-changer for our students and our school community", said Principal Eugene Pinkard. "The soccer field will transform our curriculum and make a valuable space into a world-class facility." Washington, DC is the fifth US city that has received the gift of a soccer field and coaching from the UAE Embassy. Fields have also been built in the Harlem neighbourhood of New York City, Hass Park neighbourhood of Chicago, East Los Angeles and Miami. An on-going youth coaching program at the new field will be provided by City Soccer in the Community, an initiative of English Premier League team, Manchester City Football Club. This program is the latest in a series of Washington, DC area partnerships and philanthropic community programs led by the UAE Embassy including the Sheikh Zayed Institute of Paediatric Surgical Innovation at Children's National Medical Centre, the Joe's Champs program to provide DC public school teacher training, and contributions and participation in Everybody Wins! DC - the leading organisation that promotes children's literacy by pairing students with local reading mentors. – Emirates News Agency, WAM