Page 21 - MOS PR REPORT - January 2025

1/15/25, 9:40 AM Second edition of UAE School Games to kick off in January with participation of thousands of students from across UAE
The event will be organised by the UAE Sports Federation for the Institutions of School and University
Education, in partnership with the Ministry of Sports, the UAE National Olympic Committee, the Ministry
of Education, and key partners from the country’s sports and education sectors. It will feature 12 sports,
including football, swimming, athletics, judo, taekwondo, jiu-jitsu, archery, fencing, badminton, and

shooting. This year, the championship will include table tennis and chess for the first time, following a
survey conducted by the UAE Sports Federation for School and University Education Institutions among
participating schools. Furthermore, expanded age categories will ensure broader student participation

across all levels.

His Excellency Sheikh Suhail bin Butti Al Maktoum, Secretary-General of the UAE Sports Federation for
the Institutions of School and University Education, said: “The School Games exemplify the Ministry of
Sports’ dedication to fostering sports as a strong foundation for developing national athletes. It plays a
crucial role in achieving the objectives outlined in the 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

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