Page 60 - GAS PR REPORT - August 2024

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. Some of the key
criteria include:
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.
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

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discover-and-empower-promising-sports-talents-in-uae