logo
Two-time Olympic champion steps in as sports advisor at Dubai's new flagship school

Two-time Olympic champion steps in as sports advisor at Dubai's new flagship school

Dubai Eye23-05-2025

Two-time Olympic gold medallist and President of World Athletics, Sebastian Coe, will step in as special advisor for sports at the flagship GEMS School of Research and Innovation that will open in August.
Coe will bring his vast experience in elite sport and youth development to support the school's vision, said Gems in a statement.
In his advisory role, Coe will work with the school's senior leadership team to ensure that excellence in physical education and wellbeing is fully integrated into the learning experience, supporting students to build confidence, resilience, and lifelong health and physical habits.
'The facilities and ambition at SRI are world-class. But more importantly, the vision to develop well-rounded global citizens who understand teamwork, perseverance, and personal bests is one I wholeheartedly share," he said.
The school, pegged as the "most expensive", features state-of-the -art facilities, including a 400m track, 50m Olympic-standard swimming pool, FIFA-standard elevated football pitch, and a world-class gymnasium.
Coe's "experience will be invaluable in shaping a truly integrated and future-ready education at the GEMS School of Research and Innovation," highlighted Sunny Varkey, Chairman and Founder of GEMS Education.
The school earlier announced the appointment of former UK foreign secretary William Hague, former Chief Inspector of Ofsted Amanda Spielman, and former UK Minister of State for Schools Nick Gibb in advisory roles.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Alcaraz survives after Sabalenka, Zheng shine at scorching French Open
Alcaraz survives after Sabalenka, Zheng shine at scorching French Open

Dubai Eye

time2 days ago

  • Dubai Eye

Alcaraz survives after Sabalenka, Zheng shine at scorching French Open

Carlos Alcaraz made heavy weather of his French Open clash with Damir Dzumhur but moved into the fourth round while world number one Aryna Sabalenka and Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen blazed a trail on a hot Friday at Roland Garros. Defending champion Iga Swiatek continued her bid for a fifth Roland Garros title when the fifth seed stayed calm on a searing afternoon on Court Philippe Chatrier to beat Jaqueline Cristian while Holger Rune edged a brutal five-setter with Quentin Halys. Alcaraz was expected to sizzle in the cool of the evening but the second seed found himself in hot water after his level dipped against Dzumhur before recovering to seal a 6-1 6-3 4-6 6-4 win and book a clash with Ben Shelton. Sabalenka avoided the worst of the heat in the morning but had to stave off the plucky Olga Danilovic to win 6-2 6-3 and continue her bid for a maiden Roland Garros title after major triumphs at the Australian and U.S. Opens. The three-time Grand Slam champion looked in ruthless form while racing ahead 5-0 but Danilovic avoided the bagel by taking the sixth game on serve and pulled a break back. The resurgence did not last long as Sabalenka closed out the opening set with another break and withstood a stern test in the second set to beat her 34th-ranked opponent. Zheng, who won her biggest title at last year's Paris Games, continued her good form on the Roland Garros clay as the Chinese eighth seed made the second week by beating Grand Slam debutant Victoria Mboko 6-3 6-4 at Court Simonne Mathieu. That match was halted briefly when the 18-year-old Mboko was down 5-3 in the second set as a fan needed medical attention but Zheng was not affected when play resumed and quickly dispatched the Canadian. Former semi-finalist Amanda Anisimova required treatment for a blister on her right hand before the American secured a 7-6(4) 6-4 victory over Clara Tauson to reach the last 16 of the major where she announced herself in 2019.

Sabalenka and Swiatek through, Musetti battles into French Open last 16
Sabalenka and Swiatek through, Musetti battles into French Open last 16

Gulf Today

time2 days ago

  • Gulf Today

Sabalenka and Swiatek through, Musetti battles into French Open last 16

Iga Swiatek kept her bid for a fourth consecutive French Open title on track on Friday, advancing to the last 16 at Roland Garros along with top women's seed Aryna Sabalenka and Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen. Italy's Lorenzo Musetti and Dane Holger Rune rallied to set up a fourth-round clash. Swiatek came through despite a very close second set against Romania's world number 60 Jaqueline Cristian, winning 6-2, 7-5 in nearly two hours in sweltering conditions on Court Suzanne Lenglen. 'Before it was 20 degrees when I played my first match but today it was 30 degrees. It is not easy to adjust but I have played in every condition,' said Swiatek. She will play 12th seed Elena Rybakina for a place in the quarter-finals after the Kazakh dispatched 2017 champion Jelena Ostapenko 6-2, 6-2 in a clash of big hitters. She has a 4-4 record against Rybakina but has lost both previous meetings on clay. Swiatek though could scarcely hide her relief at avoiding Ostapenko, who is 6-0 against her. A former world number one, who has fallen to fifth in the WTA rankings, Swiatek has not won a title since her third consecutive title on the Parisian clay in 2024. Swiatek broke the 60th-ranked Cristian twice in a comfortable first set, but she was pushed a lot harder by her rival in the second and had to save six break points. 'She went for it every time I gave her a chance,' said Swiatek, hoping to become the first woman to win four successive Roland Garros titles since Suzanne Lenglen 102 years ago. 'I'm just happy that I was super solid and didn't give any free points but she used her chances.' Earlier, Sabalenka produced a dominant display in a 6-2, 6-3 win over Serbian left-hander Olga Danilovic. 'Olga is a fighter. I enjoyed our battle,' said Madrid Open winner Sabalenka after beating her 34th-ranked rival in 79 minutes on Court Philippe Chatrier. The 27-year-old Belarusian next plays 16th-seeded American Amanda Anisimova for a place in the quarter-finals. Anisimova ousted Danish 22nd seed Clara Tauson 7-6 (7/4), 6-4 in their third-round tie. Zheng ended the run of Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko 6-3, 6-4. The Chinese eighth seed has now won nine successive matches at Roland Garros following her run to Olympic gold last year. Zheng is through to the fourth round in Paris for the second time and will next Russian 19th seed Liudmila Samsonova who brushed aside Ukraine's Dayana Yastremska 6-2, 6-3. Zheng and Samsonova will both be bidding for a first Roland Garros quarter-final berth. Eighth seed Musetti won 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-2 against Argentine Mariano Navone in three hours and 25 minutes. Musetti arrived in Paris as one of the form players in the world after backing up his runner-up finish in Monte Carlo with semi-final runs in Madrid and Rome. But the Italian dropped his first set in Paris against world number 97 Navone. 'I've grown up a lot. A match like this I don't know if I would (have) come back a few years ago,' said Musetti. 'The heat was pretty tough to manage. But happy to find a way to turn around the match.' Musetti, who reached the fourth round in Paris for the third time, next plays Rune who rallied past France's Quentin Halys in five sets. In the night session, second seed Alcaraz steps up for a third-round meeting with 69th-ranked Bosnian Damir Dzumhur. Four-time Grand Slam champion Alcaraz is the title favourite after securing the Monte Carlo Masters and Italian Open trophies in the build-up to the clay-court major. The 22-year-old Spaniard has reached the second week in 10 of his last 11 Slam appearances. Agence France-Presse

Al Nassr keen to secure Cristiano Ronaldo's future amid interest from other clubs
Al Nassr keen to secure Cristiano Ronaldo's future amid interest from other clubs

The National

time3 days ago

  • The National

Al Nassr keen to secure Cristiano Ronaldo's future amid interest from other clubs

Al Nassr are in negotiations with Cristiano Ronaldo over a new deal but face stiff competition from suitors across the globe, according to the club's sporting director Fernando Hierro. Ronaldo, 40, has been the face of Saudi Arabian football since arriving in Riyadh in January 2023, but speculation over his future has intensified after his cryptic social media message following Al Nassr's final match of the season against Al Fateh. 'This chapter is over. The story? Still being written,' the five-time Ballon d'Or winner wrote, fuelling rumours he could move on. 'Ronaldo's contract runs until June 30. We're working to renew it so he can continue with us,' Hierro told reporters. 'But of course, there are many clubs interested in signing him.' Ronaldo topped the goal charts in the Saudi Pro League for a second successive season and, despite Al Nassr missing out on Club World Cup qualification, his presence continues to elevate the profile of Saudi football. 'Cristiano's arrival was not just a signing – it was a national project,' Hierro said. 'He opened up the Saudi league to the world. It's phenomenal he had the courage to come, to stay, and to help us grow.' Fifa President Gianni Infantino recently hinted that Ronaldo could yet feature in the 32-team Club World Cup in the US this summer, with the global body even creating a special transfer window for the tournament. While Moroccan giants Wydad Casablanca had been linked with a surprise move for the Portuguese legend, sources close to the club denied any formal talks. Whether Ronaldo's story in Saudi Arabia continues remains to be seen – but Al Nassr are determined to ensure this chapter doesn't close just yet.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store