DUBAI: The 9th edition of the National Sports Day initiative saw an unprecedented participation of 77,230 individuals from all segments of society, surpassing the previous year’s 70,000 participants. The event, themed “The UAE Unites Us,” was organised by the National Olympic Committee in collaboration with Shabab Al Ahli Dubai Club, with significant participation from schools, including 5,000 students engaging in fair competition across various sports.
The day began with a sports march led by committee members, club representatives, athletes, and students, followed by competitive matches and fitness sessions. The diverse activities attracted participants of all ages, with 23% men, 16% women, 21% children, 10% people with determination, and 9% elderly individuals taking part.
Fares Al Mutawa, Secretary General of the National Olympic Committee, stressed the importance of this day in embodying the values and principles of the Olympic movement through sports practices and major events; Characterized by commun
ity participation, whether from seniors, families, and people of determination, which contributed to doubling the number of sports events with the launch of the ninth edition and the endeavor of all entities to organize more accompanying activities and register them on the website, which witnessed great turnout with the actual start of the event.
He appreciated the directives of H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, President of the National Olympic Committee, and his affirmation that practicing sports is a societal culture that our wise leadership has reinforced and provided the appropriate environment that encourages its sustainability and increases its percentage among all age groups while spreading the positives resulting from it. It has become a fundamental approach and a major component in building the society of the UAE.
Al Mutawa expressed his sincere thanks and appreciation to Shabab Al Ahli Dubai Club for the good hospitality, organization of the events of th
e National Sports Day, and coordination as well with the working teams of the Olympic Committee to make the main event a success.
For his part, Abdulaziz Al Salman, a member of the Board of Directors of the National Olympic Committee, Chairman of the Executive Working Group for the National Sports Day initiative, praised the increase in the percentage of events compared to the previous edition, which had 70 thousand participants, reflecting the growing interest in sports and the interaction of all categories with the National Sports Day initiative and the inclusiveness that the event succeeded in achieving, by targeting institutions, entities, organizations and individuals in a series of activities that did not stop throughout the day across the country, which translated the message of the initiative and its title “The UAE Unites Us”.
Al Salman added, ‘The National Sports Day affirms the ability of the sports sector to play an effective role in supporting the commitment to government orientations by encoura
ging sustainable practices and educating athletes and various segments of society about the importance of sustainability and ways to enhance commitment to it based on daily sports activities, in addition to entrenching effective cooperation between sports institutions, government agencies and private sector institutions with the aim of contributing to the advancement of the sports sector.”
Source: Emirates News Agency