The Sports Coordination Council discusses mechanisms for developing talent discovery programs and enhancing global competitiveness

Dubai, October 23 / WAM / The Sports Coordination Council held its second meeting for the year 2025 at the headquarters of the Ministry of Sports in Dubai, headed by His Excellency Dr. Ahmed Belhoul Al Falasi, Minister of Sports, and in the presence of an elite group of senior sports officials and representatives of federal and local government agencies that are members of the Council.
His Excellency Dr. Ahmed Belhoul Al Falasi stressed the importance of the role played by the Sports Coordination Council as a strategic platform to enhance integration between sports entities in the country, and to follow up on the implementation of national directions to develop the sports sector according to a comprehensive vision that keeps pace with the ambitions of the next stage. He explained that the Council is a major pillar in unifying efforts between the country’s sports institutions, and working in a single team spirit to support the march of national federations and enhance the readiness of teams, which contributes to achieving honorable achievements. The UAE flag is raised in various sporting events.
He noted that the Ministry is continuing to implement initiatives aimed at discovering talent and spreading sports culture among various societal circles, such as school and university games and the Talent Committee platform, in partnership with educational and sports bodies, with the aim of expanding the base for practicing sports in the country, and discovering a new generation of athletes capable of competing and reaching new levels of excellence.
He added that the next stage will witness a greater focus on supporting the institutional structure of Emirati sports, by unifying efforts with sports councils, and enhancing the role of the private sector in sponsoring and developing future sports projects, in a way that contributes to building a sustainable national sports system that embodies the national vision that aims to chart a more integrated and prosperous sports future.
The meeting – whose details were announced by the Ministry of Sports today – witnessed the attendance of a number of senior officials, along with officials from sports councils, the National Olympic Committee, the Paralympic Committee, and those interested in sports affairs.
The Abu Dhabi Sports Council reviewed the agenda of community events for the year 2025, which includes organizing 172 diverse sporting events covering various games and categories, reflecting its efforts to promote community sporting activity and spread the culture of sport as a way of life, in addition to presenting a presentation on Abu Dhabi hosting the Masters Games 2026, which includes more than 30 sports and aims to participate in 25,000 athletes over 30 years old to stimulate activity for older age groups. age and increase community interaction between generations, which contributes to consolidating the position of the capital, Abu Dhabi, as a leading sports destination that attracts thousands of participants annually of all ages and levels.
The Dubai Sports Council reviewed its most prominent community activities included in the 2025 agenda, which includes the seventh labor session extending from September 28, 2025 until June 30, 2026, in addition to a group of major races and events that witness wide public participation, including the Dubai Fitness Challenge.
The Ministry of Interior gave a presentation on its most prominent efforts in supporting community sports activities, including positive spirit initiatives, the Dubai World Steeplechase Championship, and the Dubai Police Electronic Sports Championship.
While the Ministry of Sports reviewed its latest preparations to launch the third edition of the school games, which will witness the addition of steeplechase sports along with 12 other sports, and the expansion of participating age groups to include stages from 9 to 19 years, in cooperation with the Ministry of Education, the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, the Dubai Sports Council, and a number of partners from federal and local authorities.
The Ministry discussed the developments of the second edition of the “University Games” after steeplechase sports were added to 3 other team sports, namely football, volleyball, and basketball, with an expected participation of 2,700 students from 47 universities.

She explained that the league stage began this October and continues until the end of next February, followed by the qualifying stage from March 30 to April 26, with the winning teams being crowned at the end of the university season.
The Emirates Committee for Nurturing Sports Talents and Supporting National Sports reviewed the achievements of the “Talent Committee Platform,” which it launched as the first national platform specialized in discovering and developing talented athletes.

The committee explained that 1,169 athletes created personal files on the platform, while 307 athletes submitted official applications, and 126 athletes were invited to the first evaluation session in which 101 athletes from 22 different sports participated.
The Ministry presented the “National Schools for Sports Talents” initiative in cooperation with the Ministry of Education, which aims to transform government school complexes into comprehensive sports training centers after school hours, attracting students of different nationalities and groups and enabling community participation through equipped sports centers.
At the conclusion of the presentations, the National Olympic Committee reviewed the arrangements related to hosting the headquarters of 23 national sports federations, in addition to three Asian federations, namely rugby, karate, and badminton, and two Arab federations, namely basketball and rugby, in addition to allocating business offices for federations that do not have headquarters, and halls for general assembly meetings and workshops without any financial fees.

The National Olympic Committee bears the costs of all logistical services, in a step aimed at supporting national federations and providing a professional work environment that contributes to developing institutional performance and enhancing coordination between sports entities.
The attendees stressed the importance of joint coordination between all concerned parties to achieve institutional integration, stressing the need to continue working to build an integrated and sustainable sports system that supports achieving the goals of the National Sports Strategy 2031 and enhances the country’s leadership on the regional and global sports scene.
The Sports Coordination Council works to harmonize and integrate the strategies, policies and programs of the sports sector to enhance the country’s sports competitiveness globally, and propose the necessary solutions and recommendations, in addition to coordinating and synergizing efforts among the authorities concerned with developing sports in the country, and working to host major sporting events and achieving sustainability of excellence in the sports sector.

The Council contributes to proposing sports initiatives and programs aimed at building and refining the skills of Emirati athletes, and preparing specialized national cadres capable of improving the national sports scene.

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