The UAE participates in the first meeting of sports ministers of the Asian Cooperation Dialogue countries

The UAE participated in the first meeting of the Sports Ministers of the Asian Cooperation Dialogue countries, under the title “From Tradition to Innovation: The Future of Sports in the Asian Cooperation Dialogue Countries”, which was held on the sidelines of the activities of the 13th International Sports Forum “Russia – A Sports Nation”, in the Russian city of Samara.

The country was represented by Undersecretary of the Ministry of Sports, Ghanem Mubarak Al-Hajri, in the meeting, which witnessed the participation of a number of ministers and officials from member states, in addition to representatives of regional and international organizations in the sports field, as part of the efforts of the countries of the Asian continent to enhance cooperation, discuss partnership frameworks, exchange experiences in the sports sector, and develop joint programs and initiatives that support youth empowerment and the advancement of sports at the continental and international levels.

During the meeting, Al Hajri stressed that the UAE, under the guidance of its wise leadership, pays great attention to strengthening international cooperation frameworks in various sectors, especially the vital sports sector, saying: “Sports has become a global language capable of building bridges of cooperation between nations, and enhancing friendship, understanding and human rapprochement between the peoples of Asia and the world.”

Al-Hajri added in a press statement issued by the Ministry of Sports: “The rapid technological development has made sports innovation a major focus in the future of sports, whether in developing physical performance and improving training methods or in the field of smart governance and data analysis. Investing in modern technologies such as artificial intelligence and big data analysis has today become an essential factor in creating sporting excellence and building future champions.”

Al-Hajri reviewed part of the country’s strategy in developing its sports system through an environment that stimulates innovation, and adopting projects that aim to discover young talents, which represent a starting point for every sustainable development in the sports field, stressing: “Young people are the energy of the future, and our investment in them is an investment in the sustainability of sports achievement and the extension of its positive impact on the entire society.”

The ministerial meeting of the Asian Cooperation Dialogue countries discussed a number of important files, most notably enhancing cooperation between the countries of the continent in the fields of sports infrastructure, talent discovery, developing competitive competencies, and expanding the base of community participation in sports activities, in addition to discussing ways to exchange experiences on modern sports policies and innovation mechanisms in training and sports management.

The Asian Cooperation Dialogue Organization is a regional framework founded in 2002 in the Thai capital, Bangkok, and its membership includes more than 35 Asian countries. The organization aims to enhance integration and cooperation between Asian countries in multiple fields, including economy, culture, education, science and technology, in addition to the youth and sports sectors, by activating channels of dialogue and coordinating Asian positions on issues of common interest, which contributes to consolidating the position of the Asian continent as an active and influential force in the international scene.