Dubai Sports Conference confirmed for December 27-28

Dubai The Dubai Sports Council (DSC) has confirmed that its 7th Dubai International Sports Conference will be held on December 27-28.

"The dates have been reviewed and finalised and we are glad to disclose that our annual conference will be held on these two days," Dr. Ahmad Saad Al Sharif, General Secretary, DSC, told Gulf News.

The annual event — held under the patronage of Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of DSC — has consistently brought in top-class footballers and officials associated with the sport in an attempt to pass on their experience to the professional set-up in the UAE, if not the region.

One of the highlights of this year's conference will be the visit of the UEFA President and former French footballer Michel Platini, who confirmed his presence at the Globe Soccer press conference attended by Vice Chairman of the organizing committee and Conference Director, Dr. Ayesha Al Busmait and Dr Sharif, last month.

Capello

The announcement was also attended by former England coach Fabio Capello, Italy's World Cup winning captain Fabio Cannavaro, former captain of Ghana Abedi Pele and ex-chairman and owner of Torino FC and AS Lazio, Gianmarco Calleri.

"It has always been our motive to bring in the best from the sporting world so that the sportspersons from the country and the region benefit due to the presence of such high-profile legends during the conference," remarked Dr. Al Sharif.

"We have hosted the best of the best from the world of football during the last six editions of this conference and this year is going to be no different as we continue playing a role in portraying football as the industry it has grown to be," he added.

The annual Dubai International Sports Conference has been one of the main platforms for the sporting industry in the UAE and the Gulf in discussing important issues related to football and sports in general since the past six years.

Last year, Real Madrid and Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo was a huge draw at this conference while joining other luminaries like Fabio Capello and FC Barcelona President Sandro Rosell while discussing various topics under the conference title ‘Football Companies — Current and Future Trends'.