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UAE Sports Federation for School and University Education
Institutions to foster raw talent to build future of sport in Emirates
UAE, May 29, 2022- The UAE Sports Federation for School and University Education Institutions - which held its maiden board meeting
under the chairmanship of H.E. Dr. Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi, Minister of Education and Chairman of the General Authority of Sports -
discussed the framework to improve the mechanism of discovering young talent and ensuring their development. The meeting followed
the formation of the new Federation in December 2021, through the integration of the UAE School Sport Association and the UAE
University Sport 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, as well as to develop long-term plans in which the educational sector collaborates with the sports sector
to developing a talent discovery mechanism, paving the way for them to fulêll global achievements.
H.E. Dr. Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi, who heads the Federation’s board of directors, said: “The new Federation reëects the concerted national
eéorts 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 (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 reëects 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 êve sports workshops in which 451 students participated, in addition to participating in
êve 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.
Al Falasi said: “The Federation is working on enhancing our national teams and adding to the talent pool from diéerent ages by building
up the spirit of athletic competitiveness among students and showcasing the important role sports play in diéerent 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 H.E. 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 Aéairs of the
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