Sports Coordination Council Spearheads Efforts to Enhance Local Sports Sector and Support Athletes to Win Championships

Boosting collaboration and rallying national efforts towards driving a notable shift in the UAE’s sports sector is essential, asserted His Excellency Dr Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi, Chairman of the General Authority of Sports (GAS) and of the Sports Coordination Council, while heading the Council’s second meeting at the GAS headquarters in Dubai, with representatives of member entities from the local and federal governments in attendance.

“This is key for advancing the UAE’s standing on a continental and international level, promoting the country as a leading global hub for the sports sector, in line with the wise leadership’s directives and the UAE Centennial 2071 vision, which calls for investing in Emirati youth and arming them with the necessary skills and know-how to position the UAE as the best country in the world by its 100th anniversary,” H.E. added.

“The Sports Coordination Council provides an ideal platform to secure notable achievements in local and continental sports competitions,” H.E. Al Falasi noted. “It is essential to scout athletic talents at an early age, provide them with the resources and conditions they need to excel, including an advanced infrastructure, professional coaching staff, and full support to ensure their development. The entire sports ecosystem is now operating in accordance with a new vision that aims to coordinate efforts among strategic partners, sports federations, experts, and talented individuals, and channel them towards advancing the UAE on the global athletic map.”

“Furthermore, it is important to promote a culture of sports across the country and develop the community – particularly the young and gifted – to make the most of all international sports, competitions, and tournaments, and boost the UAE’s soft power,” H.E. continued. “The role of the Council resonates with our strategy at the General Authority of Sports, which centres on three main pillars: governance, partnership, and accomplishments. All participants in today’s meeting expressed a serious commitment to develop the sector. This is a prime example of the kind of constructive partnership we count on to achieve our aspirations in the years ahead.”

Integrated System to Advance Local Sports

The meeting saw the Council adopt an integrated system that clearly outlines the roles and responsibilities entrusted to each party; tactics to ensure harmony among all members of the Council; and types of support each party can provide as an effective partner in achieving the desired goals, developing high-quality sports infrastructure and train outstanding athletes to compete on a continental and international levels.

Sports Infrastructure: A Key Steppingstone on the Way to Continental and International Championships

The meeting discussed the sports infrastructure for each of the selected sports, given the important role that facilities play in training and upskilling athletes. To that end, it was agreed that entities participating in the Council would make their facilities and tracks available to athletes. Representatives of these entities indicated they are prepared to provide all the necessary support and resources to contribute towards making local champions and helping Emirati athletes achieve success.

Coordination and Integration of Roles: Critical Roles and Efforts to Enhance Local Sports Sectors

The Council outlined the roles assigned to member entities in accordance with the nature of their activities, expertise, and capacity to serve the UAE sports sector. These entities will boost their efforts towards setting policies, drafting legislation, outlining financial and administrative control processes. The Ministry of the Interior was tasked with compiling a detailed portfolio documenting all facilities that can be used to train athletes in select sports, such as shooting and equestrianism, among others, in addition to preparing an action plan to train and upskill members in areas relevant to their work, including archery and athletics.

Sports Facilities and Coordinated Efforts to Highlight the UAE’s Regional and International Standing

The Council entrusted the Ministry of Education with creating a portfolio documenting all sports facilities and fields in schools across the UAE, highlighting schools that are lacking in that department. The Ministry will also develop a comprehensive database of gifted students from various sports, a new set of criteria to hire sports teachers, and performance indicators for students, along with periodic reports.

Meanwhile, the role entrusted to the Ministry of Health and Prevention is to develop a list including sports medicine specialties available in the UAE, as well as all medical centres capable of dealing with injuries occurring at stadiums. The Ministry is also tasked with developing a plan to advance the UAE’s standing as a global destination for treatment and medical services for sports injuries.

For its part, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation is in charge of drafting a list of vacant positions in federations and councils around the world to be filled by local talents. The Ministry will tap into its vast network of relations to support candidates, discuss prospects of enhancing the role of sports in the UAE’s soft power, establish communication with other countries, and provide support for the bids the UAE submits to host global and regional championships or headquarters of international federations.

The Ministry of Culture and Youth is tasked with enhancing the sports culture among youth groups, providing a common database to reach the youth segment, and supporting the Council in polling their opinions and interests regarding all sports-related matters, in an effort to motivate them to contribute positively in the sports sector.

The Ministry also undertakes the organisation of delegations to accompany national teams to Olympic and international sporting events, in order to reflect the UAE’s national identity and highlight the country’s leading position in sports. The Ministry also oversees all logistical procedures necessary to train the champions who will carry the Emirati flag in opening and closing processions so they can better embody the UAE’s heritage. Furthermore, the Ministry of Culture and Youth will support the Council’s efforts to develop heritage and community sports, which serve to highlight the UAE’s distinguished sports culture globally.

UAE Elite and High-Priority Sports Committee: Guaranteeing the Future of Local Sports

The meeting discussed the mandate of the UAE Elite and High-Priority Sports Committee of the General Sports Authority, which is a pillar of the Council’s strategy to advance the local sports sector, nurture distinguished athletes and develop priority sports. The Committee is tasked with the technical supervision of priority federations, as well as with maintaining direct communication with priority athletes and supporting them.

Furthermore, the UAE Elite and High-Priority Sports Committee coordinates closely with the National Olympic Committee to provide four categories of support to priority sports federations.

First, Strategic Support, which includes developing strategic requirements, designing talent development programmes, structuring competitions based on age groups, developing federations’ strategies, and outlining basic work mechanisms. The second category is Financial Support, which consists of increasing funding to fulfil the Committee’s mandate and introducing a performance-based funding allocation process, which allows high-performing federations to increase their funding in the future.

Thirdly, there is Technical Support, which aims to support employees of various federations and allow the Committee’s technical staff to help them to develop their talents. This category also includes supervising talent development programmes for coaches and trainers in federations; empowering sports federations to develop plans and strategies that serve to scout and recruit competent technical staff, including managers and trainers; conducting performance evaluation for employees; and establishing an integrated database.

Support and Financing: Attribution that Helps Develop Local Sports

The UAE Elite and High-Priority Sports Committee will provide direct financing packages to support training activities, in addition to allocating monthly financial rewards for elite athletes, providing opportunities for players to participate in specialised programmes and training missions abroad, and arranging for medical insurance and various other requirements.

Within the framework of the Committee, the General Authority of Sports will be tasked with formulating comprehensive sports policies, as well as leading financial and administrative supervision activities. Meanwhile, the National Olympic Committee manages international representation in multidisciplinary games, in addition to strengthening international relations between various stakeholders.

The Committee will recruit talented athletes and support them to win championships, in collaboration with all members of the Council.

As for the National Olympic Committee, it will be tasked with studying prospects of setting plans for the Emirati Olympic Champion project, in collaboration with entities represented in the Council. The NOC will develop procedures to scout talents at an early age, and select the Olympic Games in which they can compete.

Sports Councils in each of the emirates will be tasked with drafting a study on the possibility of developing an integrated plan that includes the activities and initiatives of each council, and reviewing future plans for the development of sports in their respective emirate.

Chaired by H.E. Dr. Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi, Minister of State for Entrepreneurship and Small & Medium Enterprises (SMEs), the Sports Coordination Council brings together six Ministries, Sports Councils, and representatives of Executive Councils. It is tasked with enhancing the role of sports and physical activity, facilitating collaboration and strategic partnerships among all relevant entities, overseeing the development of community sports programmes, and compiling an integrated sports database.