Dubai: The UAE and surrounding Gulf nations have the capacity of being the core development areas in the near future according to a top official from the International Amateur Athletics Federation (IAAF) visiting Dubai.
Hammou Tijani, IAAF Lecturer based in Morocco, was in Dubai to conduct a two-day seminar for nearly 20 aspiring track and field judges in the Gulf over the weekend.
Tijani, who travels the world conducting IAAF-sanctioned refresher courses for officials, will return to the country to conduct a second refresher course in jumping events in athletics later in December.
“There is always a starting point for anything, and I am glad we are doing these courses at least now than never,” Tijani told Gulf News after concluding his course on walking events at the Leaders Centre, Al Ghusais.
“The Gulf is seeing the high possibility of winning Olympic medals especially in walking or jumping events due to the body structure of the people from this area. So if we do need top athletes, we have to also ensure we have some quality officials who will be around to show them the way,” he added.
UAE Athletics President Ahmad Al Kamali, who has been coordinating the courses in the region in his capacity as IAAF Council Member remarked that nine medals have been earmarked for walking alone from the total 141 at each Olympic Games. The UAE already has around 12 juniors who are being trained to compete in walking competitions.
“We have a long-term strategy in place for the development of key track and field events in the UAE and neighbouring countries. This is definitely the start of many more exciting things happening in the future,” Al Kamali said.
Legendary Moroccan distance runner Saeed Aouita who is part of the UAE National Olympic Committee’s (UAE NOC) high-powered committee for the UAE School Olympic Games, noted that rules pertaining to the discipline of walking are tough. “Walking is a specialised event. Everyone can walk, but the rules that are followed in walking as a sport are different and tough and so it is very important that we have properly educated officials first so that our youngsters can be on the right path while training,” Aouita said.
“The UAE has a good history in the sport and we need to further encourage this by having such courses that will encourage the general development of the event,” he added.
