General Authority of Sports organises Community Sports Exhibition to instil sports culture among community members

The General Authority of Sports (GAS) organised the Community Sports Exhibition for the second consecutive year, which ran on 15 - 16 May 2024 at its headquarters in Dubai. The two-day exhibition witnessed the participation of 25 sports federations and private companies in the sports sector, along with a remarkable involvement from various societal groups. In alignment with the Authority’s strategy and the objectives of National Sports Strategy 2031, the exhibition was held with the goal of instilling and strengthening required sports principles and encouraging a higher engagement in sports activities among the members of society. Furthermore, the exhibition comes as part of the Authority’s efforts to promote sports culture among various age groups to promote sports activities as key elements of lifestyle.

The exhibition was inaugurated by His Excellency Ghanim Mubarak Al Hajeri, Director-General of GAS, in the presence of His Excellency Sheikh Suhail Bin Butti Al Maktoum, Executive Director of the Sports Development Sector at GAS, and Ahmed Al Abdouli, Director of the Community Sports Department. In addition, the inauguration ceremony had the participation of various federation presidents, members of sports councils and prominent UAE sports figures. The event also witnessed the involvement of several specialised sports companies and received interest from families and young people who are passionate about different sports disciplines.

H.E. Ghanim Mubarak Al Hajeri said: “The UAE understands the key role of sports in establishing a spirit of sportsmanship among people and improving community engagement. The country’s wise leadership also places significance on sports as a fundamental element of its future vision. In line with this, we have been striving to foster sports engagement and promote the concept of good health across various categories of society. When it comes to the UAE, community sports serve as the basis for the development of professional sports.”

Furthermore, H.E. Ghanim Mubarak underscored the vital role of sports in developing healthy and active societies. He also highlighted the significance of the exhibition as both a sports event and a platform for encouraging cooperation and interaction between the relevant sports stakeholders from various sectors in the country, including government, private institutions, community development and the educational sector. He further added, “According to the National Sports Survey, the support of the wise leadership along with collaborative efforts with various institutions resulted in an increase in the number of sports practitioners in the society, growing over 15 per cent to reach 43 in 2018. Currently, the impact of sports stands above physical and moral support, as it promotes a culture of participation and cooperation among students and young people, bolstering their capacity to interact positively within society. Currently, the exhibition offers a unique opportunity to evaluate the contributions of sports in the development of individuals as well as the community, and the role of such community gathering in fostering interactions.”

H.E Sheikh Suhail bin Butti Al Maktoum said: “At GAS, we aim to host various community sports events to support and encourage ambitious young people and sports talents. These efforts come in line with the governments directions and our commitment to encouraging community sport and familiarising every segment of society with different types of sports. Additionally, we seek to contribute towards realising the goals of the National Sports Strategy 2031 by encouraging 71 per cent of the population to engage in exercising. We consider sports as one of the efficient means to encourage communication between society members and different cultures as well as to build bridges of friendship and mutual understanding between different societies globally.”

During the event, Ahmed Al Abdouli emphasised that the exhibition garnered remarkable support from various sports institutions and a number of private companies, which contributed to providing material and logistical support for the success of this event. He further stressed the need to maintain such partnerships to achieve success in the future and create a healthy and coherent community. He further said, “We are delighted at the achievements garnered by our community members in the fields of community sports. We are relentlessly working to ensure a perfect environment to promote innovation in this vital area. In line with these efforts, we urge our partners in the UAE’s sports sector to design and launch various community initiatives that encourage community members of various age groups to participate in various sporting activities.”

The exhibition’s pavilions set the stage for various sports and entertainment events and programs. It also presented a number of programs to promote general physical fitness and exchange opinions and information on the field. Furthermore, it included training programs to aid people in using modern sports devices and set new standards for physical health programs based on scientific sources, including diet and physical training. The exhibition also presented various awareness programs that covered several themes including sport, health and nutrition. In addition to showcasing the latest sports technologies and equipment as well as developments in the sports field, the exhibition had various cultural activities and sports performances by participants.

The Community Sports Exhibition was held as part of the strategy of the Authority to encourage the role of sports in the community and raise awareness on its significance in life. The Authority is committed to host similar sporting events and activities that help create a healthy and conscious generation equipped to support the country’s development.