Dubai: Four annual sports events — DP World Tour Championship, Dubai World Cup, Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon and Dubai Tour — have received 5 Star ratings as per results of the 2016-17 Sports Events Ranking System. Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Sports Council (DSC), has approved the results.
Launched by the Dubai Sports Council (DSC) in 2014, the ranking system is a pioneering initiative that seeks to incentivise and recognise excellence in the organisation of sports competitions and events in the Emirate, with each event being ranked on the quality of organisation and its impact in six categories: environmental, organisational, promotional, social, sporting and economic.
Praising the efforts of the DSC team, Shaikh Hamdan said: “The success of this system confirms our ability to deliver unique achievements in various fields.
“It is a pure homegrown idea launched by Dubai Sports Council to develop the sports sector in line with all the major developments we have witnessed in the UAE.
“Since its inception, the Council has worked to improve the sports sector in Dubai and reach higher international standards through the adoption of successful practices, creation of innovative programmes and launch of pioneering initiatives.
“The sports sector is an integral part of our society and economy, and we are always striving to achieve excellence and innovation in this sector, in accordance with the vision of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
“We will continue to evaluate the work in this sector, recognise outstanding people in the field, enhance cooperation between public and private sectors, and motivate them to perform their national duty towards society in general and athletes in particular, and provide them with the means to succeed in achieving growth rates commensurate with the growth and development witnessed in various other sectors.”
The ranking system has seen an impressive growth in the three years since its inception. In the inaugural edition (2014-15), there were 172 organisers registered with the system and that figure has jumped to 418 for 2016-17.
The number of local and community events has increased from 178 in the first edition to 297 in the third, while the number of conferences, exhibitions and awards has almost doubled from 23 in the second edition to 43 in the third.
Expressing his confidence in the positive impact of the ranking system on the promotion of sporting events in Dubai, Shaikh Hamdan added: “The significant increase in the number of organisers registered in the third edition of the ranking system confirms the success of the system in achieving its objectives, foremost among which is to motivate organisers of sporting events to improve the quality of their organisation, and provide all the requirements of success in accordance with carefully established standards.”
