Page 10 - GAS PR REPORT - October 2022

Press Release

UAE and Russia explore sports collaboration and joint

efforts to discover and nurture talents

UAE, October 26, 2022

His Excellency Dr. Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi, Minister of Education and Chairman of the General
Authority of Sports, met with Igor Levitin, Assistant to the President of the Russian Federation for
Sports Affairs and Transport, to explore collaboration prospects in the field of sports as well as
encourage the exchange of institutional expertise in developing numerous sports cadres. The
meeting was held at the headquarters of the General Authority of Sports (GAS), during Igor
Levitin’s visit to the UAE, where both the party’s discussed cooperation in several areas relevant
to the growth of the sports industry. The meeting further emphasized developing a system or a
mechanism to identify and nurture talents as well as encouraging sports investment and
collaboration in the field of sports medicine.

H.E Al Falasi said: “The UAE seeks to further collaborative efforts to enhance the sports industry,
by utilizing various best international practices. Russia is a key partner in a number of industries,
including sports. We look forward to making investments in the mutual relations between the two
nations, which were further reinforced by His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan's

visit to Russia and his meeting with Vladimir Putin.

He added: “Russia has a long history of success in a variety of sports. By collaborating with Russia,
we look forward to increasing the interest in sports as well as identifying and nurturing more sports

talents, in addition to investing in human capital, and relying on the best international practices.
We will further focus on exchanging expertise between both nations, to create work mechanisms
in the sports sector based on three chief pillars of the UAE’s sports work system - governance,
partnership, and achievement. Additionally, this collaboration allows us the chance to reinforce
our global partnerships as well as analyze various new ways to encourage technical and
administrative cadres in the sports industry.”

Igor Levitin emphasized the relations between the two countries and expressed Russia's interest in
expanding collaboration in many sports-related areas. He added: “The UAE has established itself