Page 13 - MOS PR REPORT - January 2025

National Sports Strategy 2031, notably the goal of having over 30 Emirati players who qualify for
the 2032 Summer Olympics.”

His Excellency added: “Schools are pivotal in nurturing the next generation of professional athletes
across diverse sporting disciplines. The School Games serve as a vital platform, expanding

opportunities for Emirati athletes to excel on the global stage. This aligns perfectly with the wise
leadership’s vision to develop young talent across all sectors, with a particular focus on sports. The
goal is to foster a generation of highly skilled athletes capable of achieving remarkable success at
the Olympic, continental, and international levels.”

The UAE School Games has experienced significant growth and success, with a notable increase
in the number of participants since its trial edition. The First edition of this championship attracted
over 3,500 student participants, marking a substantial increase from its trial edition. Notably,

female participation has surged, with their participation rates reaching 62 per cent in badminton,
52 per cent in archers, 70 per cent in laser shooters, and 52 per cent in taekwondo. This
demonstrates the championship’s strong commitment to empowering female athletes and
providing them with a platform to excel in sports.

Student participation surged in the second and third levels of the championship, soaring from 1,681
in the trial edition to over 3,500 in the first official edition. Female participation significantly
increased, nearly tripling from 629 to 1,619 students. In its previous editions, the championship
boasted a wide range of participants, with approximately 51 per cent from private schools and 49
per cent from government schools. Regarding diversity, 56 per cent of the participants were UAE

citizens, 25 per cent were Asian nationalities, 13 per cent were Arab expatriates, and 6 per cent
represented European and other nationalities.

The championship has several key phases throughout the academic year. the registration period,
began last October and concluded in January 2025. During this period, all organisational tasks
were completed, including distributing circulars to both public and private schools, coordinating
meetings with partners, informing schools about participation criteria, selecting venues for the
preliminary competitions, and registering participating students. The first phase, which is currently

in progress, with students engaging in training and competitive programs at the school level across
various sports in all Emirates. The second phase, which will take place from February to mid-
April, will see students competing at the regional level in each Emirate.