Page 30 - Ministry of Sports PR Report - October 2024

10/24/24, 10:12 AM Ministry of Sports leads ‘Future of Sports Retreat' with participation of UAE Ministers, Sector Leaders, and Olympic athletes to ex…
Discussions focused on the development of strategies to continue to strengthen and expand the sector to achieve
leadership’s vision to realize the full potential social and economic impact of sports on the future of the UAE. That
included discussing the development of youth and the country’s future elite athletes, how to promote

professionalism among emerging athletes, as well as exploring the potential of sports as a form of public
diplomacy to enhance the UAE’s global position and advance nation branding objectives.

During his opening speech, His Excellency Dr. Ahmed Belhoul Al Falasi, Minister of Sports, said: “This retreat
presents a valuable opportunity for the entire Emirati sports community and affiliated partners to come together as

one to plan for the future of UAE sports. Our aim is to develop recommendations and initiatives that will pave the
way for a new beginning, driving the growth of our sports sector to maximize its potential contribution and impact
on a prosperous and sustainable future of this country and its people.”

“The government’s decision to establish the Ministry of Sports reflects its commitment to making a significant leap

forward in the national sports ecosystem. This important step reflects the government’s dedication towards
empowering our current and future athletes and enabling the promise of Emirati youth to achieve their full potential
for leadership and excellence. The retreat is a vital first step as we come together as one family to shape the future
of this sector to contribute to the realisation of the government’s vision and direction of the country for the next

decade and help transform these ambitions into reality,” His Excellency added.

Expressing his pride on the sports champions who represented the country in Paris 2024 Olympics and Paralympic
Games, His Excellency addressed them with a motivational speech, saying: “You have been symbols of resilience
and success in sports, embodying the determination and perseverance needed for our sports sector and its future

athletes to realize success at the highest levels. We believe that you represent the hope and foundation for the
future of our sports sector and serve as true role models for new generations of Emirati athletes.”

The retreat provided participants an opportunity to reflect the significance of collaboration and combined efforts
among all partners in the sports sector to achieve the core objectives of the initial phase of National Sports

Strategy 2031. In less than a year, the UAE sports community has realized a completion rate of approximately 95
percent of all eight high-priority projects in the first phase of the new national sports strategy. Core pillars of the
UAE’s sports strategy include increasing the community member participation in sports to 75 percent by 2031,
raising the number of athletes qualifying for the Olympic Games to over 30 by the Brisbane 2032 Olympics, and
intensifying efforts to boost the sports sector’s contribution to the non-oil GDP, aiming for 0.5 per cent by 2031.

The “Future of Sports Retreat” program featured a series of brainstorming sessions that focussed on five key
topics: Youth and Sports, University Sports, Sports and International Public Diplomacy, Expanding Olympic
Participation, and Identifying and Supporting Development of Elite Athletes. Additionally, the event honoured
athletes who participated in the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, for their exceptional performances

during the event and their significant contributions to enhancing the UAE’s positive reputation on the global sports
scene.

The retreat concluded with a series of key recommendations and announcements, the most noteworthy being the
launch of the inaugural University Games. The University Games is a program designed to enable exceptional

athletes at universities across the UAE to compete against each other on a national stage. The University Games
will feature competition in three sports -- football, basketball, and volleyball -- with participation from 21 universities

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