Page 25 - GAS PR REPORT - MAY 2022_Neat

The meeting followed the formation of the new Federation in December 2021,
through the integration of the UAE School Sports Association and the UAE
University Sports Association.

The Federation's Board of Directors include representatives of all educational
bodies, thus supporting the inclusiveness of the sports movement and
strengthening coordination between the education and sports sectors.

The meeting discussed the reality of sports in schools and universities, and
measures required to foster it by providing the right environment for talent
discovery. It also discussed developing long-term plans in which the educational
sector collaborates with the sports sector to for a talent discovery mechanism,
paving the way for them to fulfil global achievements.

Dr Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi, who heads the Federation's board of directors, said:
"The new Federation reflects the concerted national efforts by the Authority, the
education sector, and all strategic partners in strengthening the sports action
system through the development of a mechanism for discovering and
empowering sports talent in schools and universities. This is being done to
support the country's sports teams with renewed talent as well as provide the
best possibilities to reach a more prosperous future for UAE sport. The
Federation also aims to strengthen coordination between various educational
institutions in terms of sport."

The Federation is targeting more than 1,174,000 students in all the schools of
UAE, 20 per cent of which belong to Abu Dhabi Department of Education and
Knowledge, 28 per cent from the Emirates Schools Establishment, 9 per cent
from private schools in Ajman, Ras al-Khaimah, Fujairah and Umm al Quwain, 25
per cent from the Knowledge and Human Development Authority - Dubai, and 18
per cent from the Sharjah Education Council and the Sharjah Private Education
Authority. This reflects the large size of the target segment across all schools,
enhancing opportunities to discover highly capable sports talent.

The meeting addressed the reality of sport in 35 universities within the
Federation and discussed ways to attract other universities. The statistics for the
member universities indicated that there are 870 students who play football, 750
students, including 430 girls who play volleyball, 720 students, including 300
girls who play basketball with an infrastructure of 22 stadiums.

https://www.khaleejtimes.com/uae/uae-to-improve-ability-to-discover-new-sports-stars-says-official