From management to shaping sports future: A strategic approach to a framework led by an entrepreneurial mindset

When we talk about the future of sports, the conversation is not confined to championships, medals and facilities. It is ultimately about the people. It is about a child who discovers passion for sports; a talent whose potential is identified and nurtured; an athlete who finds a clear pathway to the podium; a family that priorities sports in their daily life; an investor who recognizes an opportunity in the sector and a society in which physical activity, health and quality of life become integral to everyday life.

This broader understanding of sport has shaped my conviction that the role of the Ministry of Sports in the next phase is not simply limited to supporting, regulating and funding the sector. The coming stage requires a dynamic approach that expands into the role of an entrepreneurial ministry, which leads the wider ecosystem and creates opportunities for growth, guided by strategic thinking and a more ambitious vision.

This requires a change in priorities. From supporting sports, the ministry needs to start investing in its future, from managing federations to empowering them, and from funding programs and activities to focusing on results and impacts. Similarly, from being an authority that regulates the sector, the ministry should evolve into a key enabler that contributes to its development.

It also means changing the way we approach talents.  Rather than waiting for talents to emerge, we should rigorously search for them, identify their potential and create pathways for development. In order to fulfil this role, we need to focus on maximizing each facilities' contribution to society and the economy and delivering services through smart, digital sports ecosystem that gives us deeper insights of the sector and enables us to make more informed decisions.

We must also rethink our approach to the private sector. Rather than a supplier we contract with, we should involve them as an active partner or investor, creating new markets and opportunities for them in areas like sports technology, facilities, events, sports science, tourism, content and services.

Most importantly, we need to rethink what sports itself represent.

Sport is not simply a form of entertainment; it is a national force.

Sports is closely connected to health and quality of life. It can enrich education and instil values. It can stimulate economic activity and create new job opportunities. It can help to strengthen identity and a sense of belonging. Moreover, it can lead to achievements that will raise the nation's flag on the global stage.

An entrepreneurial ministry does not simply mean that the government takes every responsibility. It means creating a ministry that is better equipped to empower others to succeed and bring together federations, clubs, schools, universities, the private sector, investors and the wider community around a shared national ambition of sports.

Above all, we need to rethink how we measure success.

Instead of focusing primarily on the number of programs delivered or the number of initiatives launched, we should consider the broader impact and ask: How many people's lives have been changed through sport? How many talents have found their path? How many champions have we developed? How much investment have we attracted? And how much value have we created for society and the nation?

An Entrepreneurial Ministry of Sport means a ministry that does not seek to do everything itself, but creates conditions for more achievements.

Our success in the future should not be simply measured by what the ministry achieved, but rather by what the entire sports ecosystem becomes capable of achieving.

This is the shift we need to make: from managing sports to shaping the future.

By H.E. Ghanim Mubarak Al Hajeri, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Sports