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5/30/22, 9:08 AM UAE to enhance its ability to discover new talent and future sports stars - GulfToday
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 (ADEK), 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.

The participating universities also previously saw five sports workshops in which
451 students participated, in addition to participating in five virtual
championships in the past 3 years and several great achievements.

The accomplishments include Maha Al Breki earning the bronze medal in the
World University Championships 2020, as well as participating in three world
championships, two of which were hosted by the UAE in 2019 and 2021.

Falasi said: “The Federation is working on enhancing our national teams and
adding to the talent pool from different ages by building up the spirit of athletic
competitiveness among students and showcasing the important role sports play
in different aspects. This is in line with the sports sector’s 2032 strategy aimed at

increasing levels of participation in the Olympics and establishing a suitable
environment for athletes to develop their physical abilities, in addition to creating
a new generation capable of making sports achievements that will bring pride to
the UAE regionally and internationally.”

The board of directors of the Federation includes Sheikh Suhail Bin Butti Al
Maktoum, Executive Director of the Sports Development Sector at the General
Sports Authority; Azza Bint Sulaiman, Assistant Secretary-General for
Administrative and Financial Affairs of the National Olympic Committee; Dr
Amna Al Dahak Al Shamsi, Assistant Undersecretary for Welfare and Capacity
Building Sector at the Ministry of Education; Mohammed Ahmed Almulla,
Secretary General of the Sharjah Education Council.

Dr Wafi Dawood, Chief Executive Officer of Strategy and Planning Sector at the
Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) in Dubai; Amer Al
Hammadi, Undersecretary of the Department of Education and Knowledge in
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