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6/27/24, 3:54 PM Over 95% of first phase of 'National Sports Strategy - 2031' completed within one year: Ghanim Al Hajeri - Aletihad News Center

26 June 2024 14:47
ABU DHABI (WAM)

Ghanim Mubarak Al Hajeri, Director-General for the General Authority of Sports, has affirmed that UAE sports are

advancing in the right direction thanks to the strong support from wise leadership and dedicated efforts from
stakeholders.

He highlighted that the launch of the "National Sports Strategy - 2031" marks a pivotal moment in the country's sports
development, serving as a framework for all initiatives.

Al Hajeri emphasised the wide scope for development to achieve global recognition, focusing on enhancing
infrastructure, supporting talent discovery and nurturing programmes, improving sports governance, and modernising
sports entities with advanced technologies and training programmes. He also stressed the importance of uniting efforts

to broaden community participation.

Speaking to the Emirates News Agency (WAM), Al Hajeri discussed key strategic goals, including doubling the number
of athletes qualifying for the 2032 Olympics. "This ambition underscores the necessity of talent scouting and
development to international standards, with rigorous monitoring and comparison against global benchmarks," he said.

Al Hajeri provided updates on the successful completion of the first phase of the National Sports Strategy - 2031, with

eight projects achieving over 95 per cent completion within a year. The second phase, consisting of seven projects, is
underway and aims for completion in three years, with two more projects set to launch by 2031.

The strategy targets increasing sports participation to 71 per cent and raising the sector's contribution to the GDP to
0.5 per cent by 2031.

Regarding the sports achievement’s recognition regulations, Al Hajeri noted enhancements in the new framework,
offering multiple levels of recognition across various competitions, including Olympic, Asian, and global events, along
with financial rewards for winners in university and school competitions.

Al Hajeri underscored the significance of teamwork with the Olympic Committee and sports federations to achieve

national sports goals, emphasising the coordinated efforts to develop talent, improve sports facilities, and enhance
governance and sports management practices.

He also highlighted significant progress in women's sports, with female athletes comprising nearly 20 percent of

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