Dubai: More than 10,000 athletes and visitors are expected to attend the 2016 Jubilee Games being organised at the Dubai World Trade Centre by the Ismaili Muslim community from July 22-29.
Held under the slogan ‘Excel, Compete, Unite’ in association with the Dubai Sports Council (DSC), the 2016 Jubilee Games are expecting to attract more than 10,000 visitors to the UAE.
The inaugural Jubilee Games were held in Nairobi, Kenya in 2008 as a commemorative international programme and legacy of the golden jubilee of the Aga Khan.
Next week’s edition of the Jubilee Games are expected to bring together more than 2,200 Ismaili athletes and over 8,000 spectators from 25 countries from around the world to celebrate excellence in competitive sports.
"The Jubilee Games represents diversity, excellence and sportsmanship. The diversity in our host city, Dubai is a model for us all. Everyone here comes together from all across the world, and all backgrounds," Nazma Rashid, Communications Coordinator for the Games, told Gulf News.
Volunteers such as Aga Khan Scouts and Guides have worked tirelessly with international teams in order to "facilitate this weeks events. Collaborations such as that of Dubai Sports Council and Dubai World Trade Centre with the community have ensured excellence not only for athletes in their tournaments but logistically for spectators and volunteers as well," she added.
Among the events planned during the course of the eight days will be competitions in 16 different sports categories, including six team sports and ten individual sports.
The opening ceremony of the 2016 Jubilee Games will be held at the Dubai Sports World at Dubai World Trade Centre at 3pm on July 23 where Shaikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development, who is also the patron of the Games, will be the special guest of honour.
Besides the sports, more than 1,500 volunteers will be involved in cultural performances showcasing the talent of young adults belonging to the Ismaili community.
