GAS to organise first edition of UAE Community Sports Forum in November under ‘Sports and Quality of Life’ theme

The General Authority of Sports is set to organise the first edition of the ‘UAE Community Sports Forum,’ in collaboration with the UAE Sports For All Federation, from November 21 to 23, 2023, to identify and address the most significant challenges related to community sports, both locally and regionally.

Held under the theme ‘Sports and Quality of Life,’ the Forum will shed light on a number of topics, including cooperation, innovation, capacity building, artificial intelligence, and applied research targeted at increasing sports participation among different segments of society. The Forum will be organised in the presence of numerous distinguished officials and prominent sports figures from the UAE National Olympic Committee and sports councils, in addition to several heads of sports federations, members of the Arab Sport for All Federation, and delegates from sports organisations across several countries. Additionally, the Forum will feature an impressive line-up of attendees, including numerous experts, specialists, and young researchers from the GCC countries.

The first edition of the UAE Community Sports Forum will be overseen by a task force led by Mr. Ahmed Al Abdouli, Director of the Community Sports Department at the General Authority of Sports. The task force earlier reviewed the Forum’s agenda and programs, as well as discussed, the most recent preparations for the event’s hosting at a coordination meeting held at the Authority's headquarters in Dubai.

The agenda for the event includes panel discussions and dialogue sessions that will address the latest developments in science and research to ensure continued participation in community sports in the region. These discussions will include putting forth innovative strategies and exploring means of cooperation among various sports stakeholders in the GCC region, in order to promote community sports. This is in line with the National Sports Strategy – 2031, which aims to increase participation in physical activities, encourage sports and workouts, and foster an active lifestyle among community members.

The Authority will further organise a community sports exhibition alongside the Forum to highlight the most recent methods and technological tools that promote community sports. This initiative falls in line with the governmental directives and the Authority's strategic objectives, which centres around fostering a sports culture across diverse segments of society in order to transform sports into a way of life.