Page 58 - GAS PR REPORT - August 2024

for promising talents, fostering their sports culture and developing a professional mindset through the
recently launched ‘Sports Talent’ platform. Through these efforts, we seek to ensure the sustainability of
sports talents in alignment with the goals and values of ‘Year of Sustainability’. Furthermore, it integrates
talent identification procedures to ensure a promising future for Emirati sports signifying the unwavering
efforts of the Authority in collaboration with its partners from the sports, government and private sectors.
Our goal is to devise national strategies to recognise and empower sports talents and ultimately boost the
UAE’s sports landscape.”
Sheikh Suhail bin Butti Al Maktoum, Executive Director of the Sports Development Sector at GAS, said,
“Through this initiative, we seek to create a comprehensive database of sports talents in the UAE using the
‘Sports Talent’ online platform, which is designed to be accessible to all young talents, whether they are
involved in sporting events or not. It will serve as the primary communication channel with talented
athletes across the UAE.”
Furthermore, he emphasised that increasing the number of events dedicated to talent discovery and
empowerment will significantly bolster their national identity among our sporting stars and help realise
our national sporting ambitions. “By providing financial and administrative support to promising athletes
and sports federations, we can improve the prospects of success for those athletes aiming to qualify for the
Olympics. This support will also enhance the chances of Emirati athletes succeeding in international
competitions and achieving sporting excellence at all levels. Our goal is to meet the targets set out in the
National Sports Strategy 2031, which aims to qualify over 30 Emirati athletes for the 2032 Olympic
Games,” he added.
The key goals of the ‘Sports Talent’ platform include identifying sports talents according to different age
categories, monitoring and documenting initiatives and programs to discover and empower sports talent,
boosting the number of participants as well as programs linked to discovering sports talent and
developing a comprehensive database on sports talent in different competitive sports.
The Authority has set out several criteria to improve the identification and support of sporting talents.
This initiative aims to strengthen collaboration among stakeholders to uphold the principles of effective
sports management and corporate governance. The key goal of the initiative is to ensure commitment to
the successful execution of plans, programmes, objectives and sports strategies for all involved parties.
First, formulate strategies that aid in the proactive preparation and creation of a suitable environment for
the early identification of gifted individuals, empowering them through programmes, resources, activities
and scientific assessments.
Second, regular assessment of the implementation and execution of the plan on the basis of the
designated indicators and initiatives. This includes ensuring that tests are conducted to evaluate the
abilities and levels of talent, using scientific principles and standards to measure both the current
performance of these individuals and their potential future capabilities.
Continuous monitoring and implementation of development of programmes and systems to nurture
sports talents through training camps and encourage participation in both national and international
events while offering comprehensive support and sponsorship across various areas.
Regular assessments and ongoing support for athletic talents and determining strengths and areas for
improvement to enhance performance development.
The Authority is accelerating its efforts to position this platform as a key contributor towards attaining
national sports goals. It aims to achieve this by supporting the development of a competitive sports
environment that helps to nurture talent through dedicated and thoughtful plans and programs to achieve
outstanding sports results and raise the flag of the UAE high in various sports events.
The ‘Empowering and Sustaining Sports Talent’ project is integrated with the transformative project
‘Talents’. The project, in collaboration with relevant sports federations and sports bodies, conducts a wide
array of competitions, tournaments and sports festivals as well as using new mechanisms to identify
sports talent and thus expand the scope of competitive sports. (ANI/WAM)

https://theprint.in/world/gas-launches-sports-talent-platform-to-discover-and-empower-
promising-sports-talents-in-uae/2206687/