A great success for the Emirates Forum on Sports Facilities Sustainability

Under the patronage and the presence of HE Dr. Abdullah Belheif Al Nuaimi Minister of Infrastructure Development “The Emirates Forum for the Sustainability of Sports Facilities” kicked off this morning under the slogan " "Sustainability and the Future", organized by the General Authority for Sports, the UAE Forum for the Sustainability of Sports Facilities kicked off today with the participation of more than 300 personalities specialized in the field of sport facilities locally and internationally. HE Dr. Abdullah Belhaif Al Nuaimi said during the forum that the UAE is aware of the dimensions of the delicate stage in our world as a result of growing concerns about the difficulty of preserving the environment in light of the exaggeration in using fossil energy, which drives us to invest in the environment and preserve it as part of the concept of sustainable development with its environmental, Social and economic dimensions. HE added that this conference is the result of the UAE's keenness to achieve sustainability in the urban field in general and sports facilities in particular as one of the most important points of urban design and one of the best facilities that can achieve polarization and harmony between different segments of society, The sustainability of these facilities and their conformity with international standards and practices will enable the State to foresee the future in line with international standards with high efficiency and competently and will open the way for sport facilities to perform its functions and role of avant-garde at the highest level. He pointed out that the Ministry of Infrastructure Development has adopted a strategy aimed at consolidating environmental, economic and social sustainability criteria within its projects, in order to complement the UAE's march towards a sustainable green economy. The Ministry of Infrastructure Development has developed few innovative mechanisms of which is rationing water use In its projects by recycling it in the fields of agriculture and the increase green areas in the state, and in the energy sector it relied on renewable energy, through construction of government buildings which depends on renewable energy. He stressed that the system of sustainable green buildings and renewable energy is one of the main possibilities to achieve the ultimate goal in 2021, for UAE to be among the most advanced countries. The national agenda focus on the theme of "sustainable environment and integrated infrastructure" on air quality, preserving water resources, increasing reliance on clean energy and the application of green development. For his part, Ibrahim Abdul Malik Mohammed, Secretary General of the General Authority for Sports praised the role of wise leadership in supporting sport facilities and its sustainability, emanating from the thought of our nation builder and founder Zayed the human and we are living in Zayed Year. Abdul Malik thanked HE Dr. Abdullah Belhaif Al Nuaimi, Minister of Infrastructure Development for his patronage of the Forum, and HE Major General Mohammad Khalfan Al Rumaithi, Commander-in-Chief of Abu Dhabi Police, Chairman of the General Authority for Sport, for his support, for his follow-up and guidance, and all the sponsor, supporters and participants in addition to the media for their cooperation and their support for the success of this forum. He stressed that the General Authority for Sport organized the Emirates Forum for the sustainability of sports facilities, is in line with the dimensions of the stage that calls for achieving the highest levels of sustainability in the urban areas to get rid of the so-called sick buildings with systems that are familiar, which rely on the overall applications of traditional energy which causes various kinds of damage to the environment and contributes to the destruction of their vital systems and depletion of resources and works on exhausting it with various types of pollutants and various types of waste. He added that the importance of holding this forum stems from the keenness of the General Authority for Sport to take note of what is happening in the corridors of competent authorities of data and practices consistent with the best international standards and practices to take advantage of them and work through them to achieve the highest degree of sustainability of our sports facilities in the hope of enabling them to play their leading roles efficiently and effectively corresponding With the requirements of the National Agenda for the vision of the UAE 2021, which aims to achieve a sustainable environment, which allows to preserve our natural resources, and raise the level of our dependence on clean energy, and contribute effectively in the application of green development concepts and reduce the amounts of used water and reprocessing it, saving energy consumption, and the use of environmentally friendly materials in construction. Abdul Malik said: "Your positive participation with the General Authority for Sport in this vital forum is a strong proof of your institutions' keen interest in the sustainability of sport facilities and the pioneering role they play in this regard. This is what drives us all to come up with feasible decisions and recommendations that will enable us in the near future to work with a common vision and one team to face the difficulties and challenges that impede the sustainability of the infrastructure of sport facilities in the country, and to institutionalize this effort by endorsing the proposal to bring out the “National Program for the Sustainability of Sport Facilities” into existence. On the other hand, Ahmed Al Abdooli, Director of the Sports Facilities Office, Secretary General of the Forum said that the level of global competition for achieving sustainability in the field of sports is very strong, reaching unprecedented levels, especially in the field of sustainability of sports facilities, which prompted the Office of Facilities in the General Authority of Sport to strengthen and develop cooperation and coordination with the various parties concerned in order to address this issue and deal with it with all seriousness in order to achieve the highest degree of sustainability for our sporting facilities to benefit from our future generations. Abdouli noted that this forum came in harmony with The requirements of the operational plan of the Office of Sport Facilities in the Authority, and in line with the requirements of the national agenda for the vision of the UAE 2021, which aims to achieve a sustainable environment that conserves various types of natural resources in a balanced manner, and raise the level of reliance on clean energy, and contribute ably to the application of the concepts of green development in line with the best standards and global practices. The first session was conducted by the media personality Adnan Hamad Al-Hammadi which touched on the theme of "Sustainability for the Earth. A leading sports vision" with the Eng. Ali Mohammed Al Jassem, CEO of Etihad Power Services, Eng. Anwar Al Shammari, Director of Design Department in the Ministry of Infrastructure Development, Dr. Habibah Hassan Sultan Al Marashi, Chairman of Emirates Environment Group, Eng. Bandar Bin Nasser Al Sa’ad, Planning consultant in the Saudi Engineers Authority. The second session was presented by Nada Al-Shibani and discussed "Innovative National Experiences in Future Forecasting with the participation of " Dr. Ali Al Amoudi, Chief Environmental Engineer, Abu Dhabi Oil Refining Company, Eng. Nasser Bader Abu Al Hassan, Chief Architect, Kuwait, Al Lawati, Project Engineer, Sultanate of Oman, and Moza Mohammed Al Zuwaidi, Head of Environment, Health and Safety, Fujairah Natural Resources. Recommendations: The Forum concluded by reciting the recommendations summarized as follows: 1. adopting the National Program for the Sustainability of Sport Facilities with the participation of the various stakeholders in line with the latest references, types and patterns of practices and experiences inside and outside the country according to our national needs. 2. Forming a team led by the Ministry of Infrastructure Development For the development of engineering codes, manuals and technical specifications related to urban sustainability, provided that part of it is devoted to sports facilities. 3. The approval of the municipalities concerning the licensing of sport facilities and the approval of their implementation according to the compatibility of their plans And its technical specifications and construction systems with the requirements of sustainability and environment friendliness 4. Attracting institutions of higher education and directing them towards positive engagement and engage in the issue of sustainability in the field of urban and especially sports facilities and requiring their students to carry out studies and scientific research that promote it. 5. The establishment of the annual Emirati Award for Urban Sustainability Which is granted to the best building or a sustainable establishment and honoring the various bodies and persons who contributed to the achievement of the sustainability and the allocation of an award concerned with the sports facilities 6. The General Authority for Sport, to take the procedures to define the risks and the consequences of the deterioration of the environment and raise the level of awareness of the importance of the sustainability of sport facilities in various types of sensory and digital communication. 7. Organizing the Emirates Forum for the sustainability of sport facilities on an annual basis and expanding the circle of participation to entities from outside the country. HE Abdullah Belheif Al Nuaimi, Minister of Infrastructure Development, along with the Secretary General of the Sport Authority, at the end of the events honored the sponsors and participants and took a joint picture.