1400 students compete in six disciplines in second phase of School Games across UAE

UAE, 07 February 2025- The second phase of the School Games began at the end of January, drawing enthusiastic participation from students across multiple emirates of the UAE. More than 1,400 students have competed in six disciplines, including jiu-jitsu, shooting, judo, athletics, badminton, and archery, so far. This participation underscores the championship’s success in attracting young sporting talent and fostering a vibrant culture of school sports.

Running through April, the second phase of the latest edition of the School Games brings together top student athletes from across the UAE to compete in 12 different sports, including football, swimming, athletics, judo, taekwondo, jiu-jitsu, archery, fencing, badminton, laser shooting, table tennis, and chess. Winners will advance to the final round in May, where the country's most promising young athletes will compete for gold, silver, and bronze medals.

Football competitions will begin on February 8, 2025, while badminton for both boys and girls, along with athletics for female students, will take place throughout the week. The remaining events will be held every Saturday and Sunday until all finalists for the concluding stage are determined. Initial estimates indicate that student participation in this year’s edition will exceed 5,000 by the end of the season.

The championship is being organised by United Arab Emirates Sports Federation for School and University Education Institutions, in partnership with the Ministry of Sports, the Ministry of Education, UAE National Olympic Committee, as well as multiple sports federations and educational entities. This collaborative effort strengthens the integration between the sports and education sectors, fostering the development of young talent and driving forward the goals of the National Sports Strategy 2031, which aims to increase the number of Emirati athletes qualifying for the 2032 Olympics to 30.

The School Games is part of the competitive sport games initiative in the education sector, one of three major transformative projects outlined in the National Sports Strategy 2031. This championship serves as a national platform aimed at enhancing skills of students across a range of sports, promoting regular physical activity as part of their everyday lives, and discovering and developing talented athletes capable of representing the UAE at regional, international and Olympic events.