UAE moves towards an all-embracing sports strategy

Dubai: The UAE has embarked on an all-embracing initiative before firming up a future sports strategy for the country. The National Olympic Committee (UAE NOC) conducted an all-inclusive brainstorming session in Dubai on Tuesday with several well-known sportspersons, media, sports bodies and associations getting involved at the Grand Hyatt on Tuesday.

Termed the ‘Olympic Sports Innovation Lab’, the event is aimed at updating the strategic plan of the UAE NOC after analysing the external and internal environment of UAE sport. The session also aims to encourage development of innovative initiatives and new programmes that will assist in diffusing Olympic values at grass roots while aiming for medals and accolades at international levels in the future.

“Such a session is an absolute must for a country that aspires to be among the best in all sectors in the future,” Humaid Al Qutami, Chairman of the Board and Director General of Dubai Health Authority (DHA) and Vice-President of the UAE NOC told Gulf News after his opening remarks.

Al Qutami was joined by Shaikh Ahmad Al Maktoum, the UAE’s lone Olympic gold medallist, Mattar Al Tayer, Vice-Chairman, Dubai Sports Council (DSC), Mohammad Ebrahim Al Mahmoud, Chairman of the UAE NOC Technical Committee and Ahmad Nasser Al Raisi, Chairman of the Olympic Planning Committee, among others.

Al Qutami encouraged all departments, agencies and individuals to work with a singular aim towards firming up a sports strategy that will see the UAE stand out at the international sporting level.

“This session was all inclusive. This was meant to be a sort of an assessment from everyone concerned, be it the General Authority of Youth and Sport Welfare (GAYSW) or the various sports councils or from some of our more accomplished sportspersons,” Al Qutami said.

“As a fast developing country we realise that there are challenges ahead for us and inputs from such a varied platform can only help us in achieving our sporting goals,” he added.

Last month, the UAE NOC passed its annual budget with Al Qutami stressing the importance of doubling future efforts in the interest of UAE sport.

“Challenges are only a means of realising our objectives through orderly conduct while keeping the interest of the nation at the forefront and turning efforts made into practical results,” he observed.

“Our leadership spares no effort in supporting citizens in various fields and lending them unlimited support that helps them rise to the highest levels,” Al Qutami added.

The UAE won their only Olympic gold medal when Shaikh Ahmad Al Maktoum stood atop the podium in the double trap shooting at the 2004 Athens Games. Judoka Sergiu Toma secured the nation’s most recent medal when he claimed bronze at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games.

Next on the agenda for the UAE are the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta and Palembang followed by the Summer Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires. Due attention is being given to development of athletes at the grass-roots level with the UAE NOC Executive Committee endorsing the formation of an Executive Office of Schools Olympic Programme and an Executive Office for National Sports Day.