WAM Abu Dhabi, July 3rd, 2012 (WAM) -- The UAE national football team has finished its training camp in the Swiss Alps ahead of taking part in the London Olympics.

From June 17th to July 2nd, the UAE national football team settled in the Swiss Alpine resort ahead of the 2012 London Games, set to kick off from July 26 to August 9.

Landed last Sunday June 17th in Geneva, the team from the Emirates was officially welcomed by Philippe Rubod, CEO of Crans-Montana Tourism: "We in the resort are very proud to have been chosen by the UAE national team for their preparation of the next Olympic Games".

The Hotel Royal in Crans-Montana, which welcomed the Swiss National team before the World Cup 2010, has the pleasure to accommodate the "boys in white" during their stay in the resort.

Renowned since 1893 for its extreme pure air, Crans-Montana enjoys a Mediterranean climate facing south and blessed with sunlight 300 days a year. In addition, with five professional football pitches FIFA approved, the Swiss alpine resort offers excellent conditions for the preparation of football teams. This training camp is organized by MSM Football Crans-Montana in collaboration with Matchworld Football SA in Pully (VD).

A friendly game was also held on Thursday, June 28th against FC Sion, the best football team in the Valais region.

Mohammed Obaid Hammad, national team's manager said the boys are in their best form from all respects and showed great determination to do pride for their nation. "We are doing our best to provide the players with all means of comfort and readiness to prepare them for the challenge ahead. The warm up clashes will earn the players the required international exposure and the experience of tackling big games. UAE have been drawn in a tough group against Latin Americans Uruguay, hosts Britain and Africans Senegal. Each of the said teams have professional players with the leading European and Latin American clubs and a win against Uruguay in the opener will give the players the required push to excel against Britain in their second start," he added.

Official delegation included Mohammed Obaid Hammad (national teams manager), Adnan Al Talayani (national team supervisor), Mutrif Al Shamsi (team's manager), Mahdi Ali (coach), Patrice K. (fitness coach), Hassan Ismail (keepers' coach), Salem Al Naqbi (media coordinator), Lars Walters (matches analyzer), Jalal Al Ghali (doctor), Mohsen Balhouz (nutrition doctor), Yousuf Sahnoon (physiotherapist), J. D'Silva (masseur), Julius K. (masseur), Adel Al Nuaimi (photographer), Kailani Abdul Moniem (equipment officer).

The players are Ismail Matar (Al Wahda), Saud Saeed and Rashid Essa (Al Wasl), Khaled Essa, Ali Mabkhout, Ali Khusaif, Khamis Ismail (Al Jazira), Ali Al Amri and Habib Fardan (Al Nasr), Saad Suroor, Abdul Aziz Haikal, Ismail Al Hammadi and Ahmed Khalil (Al Ahli), Abdul Aziz Sanqoor (Sharjah), Omer Abdul Rahman, Dawood Sulieman and Mohammed Ahmed (Al Ain), Amer Abdul Rahman, Mohammed Fawzi, Haboush Saleh, Ahmed Ali and Mohammed Jaber (Bani Yas), Hamdan Al Kamali (Lyon).

WAM/AM