Brazilian national Marat Leiras, a photographer, has skydived with Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum a couple of times to take the latter's picture and video.

So impressed was he with the Crown Prince's initiatives, Marat even named his son after him! "I named my son Max Hamdan," he said. Both Max and Marat have enrolled for the fitness challenge for the next 30 days.

On naming his son after Sheikh Hamdan, Marat said: "I have a lot of respect for him and what he does - for his country, city and community and I cannot thank him enough for the status he has given my sport of skydiving. In my 12-year-career, I have not seen any one person do so much for its improvement and popularity. He has brought the best of the best together. He has introduced the best instructors, the best plane and the best facilities for skydiving to Dubai."

Max was born six years ago in Dubai and was named after Sheikh Hamdan to honour the man and his contribution to the sport Marat earns his livelihood from. "Sheikh Hamdan is our ideal and that's how I want my son to grow up to be," Marat said. Talking about the fitness challenge, Marat noted: "What an innovative and exciting challenge this is. I hope all countries around the world start it, to motivate their citizens to keep fit. This has brought so many families together for a healthy cause. In fact, my son always rides bikes but today at the opening carnival, I saw him trying out a skateboard."

Source: Khaleej Times