UAE Unveils New Platform To Discover And Support Promising Sports Talents

The General Authority of Sports (GAS) has introduced the ‘Sports Talents’ platform, a crucial element of the ‘Empowerment and Sustainability of Sports Talents’ initiative. This online platform aims to identify 1,500 emerging sports talents and provide them with essential support to develop their skills. The initiative aligns with the ‘We the UAE 2031’ vision, fostering an inclusive and supportive environment for Emirati sports enthusiasts.

The 'Sports Talent' platform is a sophisticated tool designed to gather vital data on sports talents from registration through to empowerment. By partnering with sports organisations and educational institutions in the UAE, it monitors events focused on talent discovery. This collaboration helps connect skilled athletes with opportunities to refine their abilities and channel their potential effectively.

Ghanim Mubarak Al Hajeri, Director-General for GAS, stated: "Our ‘Empowerment and Sustainability of Sports Talents’ project aims to expand the base of sports practices for promising talents, fostering their sports culture and developing a professional mindset through the recently launched ‘Sports Talent’ platform. Through these efforts, we seek to ensure the sustainability of sports talents in alignment with the goals and values of ‘Year of Sustainability’. Furthermore, it integrates talent identification procedures to ensure a promising future for Emirati sports signifying the unwavering efforts of the Authority in collaboration with its partners from the sports, government and private sectors. Our goal is to devise national strategies to recognise and empower sports talents and ultimately boost the UAE’s sports landscape."

Sheikh Suhail bin Butti Al Maktoum, Executive Director of the Sports Development Sector at GAS, highlighted: "Through this initiative, we seek to create a comprehensive database of sports talents in the UAE using the ‘Sports Talent’ online platform, which is designed to be accessible to all young talents, whether they are involved in sporting events or not. It will serve as the primary communication channel with talented athletes across the UAE." He also stressed that increasing events dedicated to talent discovery will enhance national identity among athletes and help achieve national sporting goals.

The initiative's key objectives include identifying talents across various age groups, documenting initiatives aimed at discovering and empowering these talents, increasing participation rates in related programs, and developing a detailed database on competitive sports talents. The Authority has established several criteria to enhance talent identification and support.

Strategic Goals

The initiative aims to strengthen stakeholder collaboration for effective sports management and corporate governance. Key criteria involve creating strategies for early talent identification through scientific assessments and resources. Regular evaluations based on set indicators ensure that tests measure current performance and future potential accurately.

Continuous monitoring ensures that development programs nurture talents through training camps while encouraging participation in national and international events. Comprehensive support across various areas is provided alongside regular assessments to identify strengths and improvement areas for performance enhancement.

National Sports Goals

The Authority is accelerating efforts to position this platform as a significant contributor towards achieving national sports goals. By supporting a competitive environment that nurtures talent through dedicated plans and programs, it aims for outstanding results in various sports events under the UAE flag.

The 'Empowering and Sustaining Sports Talent' project integrates with the transformative 'Talents' project. In collaboration with relevant federations, it conducts numerous competitions, tournaments, festivals, and uses new mechanisms for talent identification. This approach broadens competitive sports' scope within the community.

"By providing financial and administrative support to promising athletes and sports federations," Sheikh Suhail added, "we can improve prospects for those aiming for Olympic qualification. This support enhances Emirati athletes' chances in international competitions." The National Sports Strategy 2031 targets qualifying over 30 Emirati athletes for the 2032 Olympic Games.

This initiative underscores GAS's commitment to creating an inclusive environment where Emirati athletes can thrive. By identifying promising individuals early on and providing continuous support, GAS ensures sustainable development aligned with national aspirations.

With inputs from WAM