Latest news with #SuhailBinButtiAlMaktoum
Gulf Today
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Gulf Today
UAE School Games 2025 begins with table tennis and soccer competitions
The UAE School Games 2025 officially commenced on Tuesday, attracting widespread participation from 2,686 students representing 875 schools. To be concluded on May 24, this national-level event features 12 key sports categories, including football, swimming, athletics, judo, taekwondo, jiu-jitsu, archery, fencing, badminton, laser shooting, table tennis, and chess. The event began at 10am, with the table tennis competitions and the girls' football matches taking place at Dubai Sports City. Swimming events are scheduled for Wednesday at the main pool of Hamdan Sports Complex in Dubai, starting at 9am. These events will include short-distance, mid-distance, and relay races to determine the champions of this year's edition. Athletic competitions will take place on May 22 at the track and field facility of James Modern Academy in Dubai, featuring various short, middle, and long-distance races, along with jumping and throwing events. The finals for the remaining nine sports categories will occur on May 24 at the North Halls of the Dubai Exhibition Centre, Expo City. The closing ceremony and awards presentation will be held at 6 PM on the same day, attended by prominent sports figures, representatives of partners, and student parents. Sheikh Suhail Bin Butti Al Maktoum, Assistant Undersecretary for Sports Development and Competitiveness at the Ministry of Sports and Chairman of the UAE Sports Federation for School and University Institutions, highlighted the remarkable success of the latest edition of the UAE School Games Championship, exemplified by the widespread participation of both students and schools. A total of 4,696 students, including 3,036 boys and 1,660 girls from 875 schools across the Emirates, participated in the event, showcasing the UAE's strong commitment to enhancing the school sports sector through early talent identification and training. He further stated: 'The School Games play a critical role in nurturing future champions, and empowering Emirati athletes to shine on the world stage, achieving great success at the Olympics, as well as various continental and international levels. 'Such tournaments also help foster a culture of sports within the community by inspiring young people to lead a healthy and active lifestyle. This year's edition, in particular, has truly lived up to our expectations, due to impressive participation and the strong spirit of competition displayed by the students. 'As the finals commence, the nation's most talented young athletes will compete for the top spots and a chance to win gold, silver, and bronze medals.' The annual School Games Championship is organised by the UAE Sports Federation for schools and University Institutions in collaboration with the Ministry of Sports, the Ministry of Education, the National Olympic Committee, and several sports federations and educational bodies. This strategic collaboration reflects ongoing cooperation between the sports and education sectors to support emerging athletic talents and achieve the goals of the 'National Sports Strategy 2031', which aims to increase the number of Emirati athletes qualifying for successive Olympic Games, with an ambitious target of more than 30 athletes set for the 2032 Olympics.
Gulf Today
05-05-2025
- Sport
- Gulf Today
Minister of Sports honours winners of inaugural edition of UAE University Games
The inaugural edition of the UAE University Games concluded on Sunday with a grand awards ceremony at Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi, celebrating student-athletes and top-performing universities from across the country. Organised by the Abu Dhabi Entertainment Company (ADEC) in collaboration with the Ministry of Sports and the UAE School and University Sports Federation, and supported by Solutions+ and MBME Group, the 2025 Games marked a major milestone in youth sports development and talent promotion in the UAE. The closing ceremony was attended by an array of distinguished officials. Dr Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi, Minister of Sports, presented awards to the winning teams and athletes, joined by Dr Sultan Bin Saif Al Neyadi, Minister of State for Youth Affairs; Ghanem Mubarak Al Hajiri, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Sports and Sheikh Suhail Bin Butti Al Maktoum, Executive Director of the Sports Development Sector at the Ministry of Sports and Secretary-General of the UAE Sports Federation for School and University Sports. The event also welcomed senior figures from sports and education, including Dr Bakhit Al Kathiri, Chief Investment Officer at Mubadala; His Excellency Obaid Salem Al Shamsi, Second Vice President of the UAE Football Association; and His Excellency Abdullah Juma Al Darmaki, President of the UAE Volleyball Association. The American University in Dubai (AUD) emerged as the standout performer of the competition, capturing three titles in men's and women's basketball as well as women's volleyball, earning the prestigious 'Overall Excellence Shield.' The University of Sharjah followed closely, winning the men's football and men's volleyball titles to secure second place overall. The University of Rochester rounded out the top three. Speaking at the ceremony, Al Falasi hailed the Games as a key step in realising the goals of the National Sports Strategy 2031. He noted that the participation of more than 1,800 students from 28 universities reflected the growing importance of university sports in shaping a healthy, active, and socially responsible generation. He underlined the tournament's contribution to building a sustainable sports culture that spans all levels of education, complementing efforts such as the UAE School Games to identify and nurture national athletic talent capable of competing at regional and global levels, including the Olympics. Sheikh Suhail Bin Butti Al Maktoum described the University Games as a foundational pillar in creating a comprehensive and integrated university sports ecosystem. He praised the synergy between academic institutions and sports federations in delivering a successful inaugural edition. Sheikh Suhail highlighted the importance of aligning the university-level sports pathway with international best practices and partnerships in talent development and performance analysis. He emphasised that the tournament's outcomes reflected effective institutional collaboration and national integration, affirming the UAE's broader vision of empowering Emirati youth and supporting national teams with homegrown champions. The first edition of the University Games brought together 1,585 students from 28 universities, showcasing high levels of competition and enthusiasm. Organisers have expressed their intent to build on this momentum in future editions, solidifying university sports as a cornerstone of the UAE's sporting and youth development landscape. WAM
