Dubai: A top-ranking official from the Dubai Sports Council (DSC) believes that this year’s hiked budget will only boost the emirate’s chances on the international sporting arena.
Thanking His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai for their generous support to the sports sector, Mattar Al Tayer, Vice-Chairman of the DSC said that their gesture in allocating a budget of Dhs 411.5 million would only motivate the council to scale greater heights.
After being housed in the Dubai Municipality Sports Club in Al Garhoud, there are plans to build separate premises to house the Dubai Sports Council and work on the building will commence this year.
Also in the pipeline is the construction of the Dubai Centre for Sports Medicine and Excellence, and a part of the budget will be allocated for these two projects.
“Last year we had an allocation of Dh317 million, and this year’s enhanced budget only shows that our leaders believe in the work we are doing in reaching out to the community in fostering sports as a lifestyle,” Al Tayer noted in his opening remarks to the DSC Board of Directors.
Al Tayer confirmed that the DSC would continue its aggressive approach in furthering sports interests within the community, while continuing to host major international and regional competitions.
“This is the third successive year that the budget has been increased, and we will do all we can to ensure we continue bringing in the best sportspersons and competitions while also paying adequate attention to developing infrastructure at the grassroots level,” he said.
Al Tayer was convinced that the hard work put in by the members of the DSC had reaped significant dividends, as seen by the fact that Dubai was named the third most famous sports destination in the world behind Melbourne and London.
In addition, Dubai has recently received international recognition through an appreciation certificate from the Agita Mundo Organisation and the International Association for Physical Activity.
The Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Creative Sports Award has been ratified by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), and plans are now underway to ensure that this only gets better so as to support the pioneering role in the youth and sports sector.
“Our aim is clear: We want to maintain this unique position of Dubai on the regional and world stage. And any sort of developments that are being made in the world of sports will have the full backing of the Dubai Sports Council,” Al Tayer said.
