UAE Olympic House Hosts Discussion On Sports And Public Diplomacy

The UAE Olympic House in Paris, in collaboration with the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, hosted a high-level roundtable titled "Beyond the Games: Olympics and Public Diplomacy in Shaping National Identity." The event, hosted by Noura Al Kaabi, Minister of State at the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, brought together a distinguished panel of speakers to discuss sports and public diplomacy.

Sheikh Rashed bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, Vice President of the National Olympic Committee (NOC), opened the session by highlighting the UAE's largest-ever participation at an Olympic Games. He emphasised the UAE’s commitment to upholding Emirati sporting values while "learning from best practices and sharing experiences".

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Noura Al Kaabi highlighted the role of sports diplomacy in promoting mutual understanding between peoples and strengthening connections between traditions and cultures. She underlined how sporting initiatives foster communication across generations and emphasised the core values of Olympism: excellence, respect, and friendship.

Al Kaabi stated that the UAE’s steadfast support for sports reflects its dedication to advancing comprehensive objectives. She added, "For us, the Olympics is not only about competing in sport but also about sharing our culture and values with the world, and leaving a legacy that will be inherited by future generations."

The panel for the event consisted of four speakers: Noura Al Kaabi; Ghanim Mubarak Al Hajeri, Director-General of the UAE General Authority of Sports; Gönül Serbest, Commissioner for Victoria (Australia) to Europe, the Middle East, Türkiye, and Africa; and Samuel Ducroquet, Ambassador for Sport at the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs.

Gabriele Ramos, Assistant Director-General for Social and Human Sciences at UNESCO, commended the UAE's efforts under Centennial 2071 to build an inclusive society through sports. The discussions focused on how sports diplomacy can inspire generations, strengthen national social cohesion, drive social impact, and foster international connections.

UAE's Sports Strategy

Ghanim Mubarak Al Hajeri emphasised the UAE's sports strategy prioritising youth engagement. He noted that sports "has the power to inspire young generations to excel, positively impacting other aspects of the nation. It also creates opportunities to build bridges and strengthen ties with other nations in the Middle East and beyond."

Samuel Ducroquet highlighted Paris 2024's ambition to organise the event "in a spirit of solidarity and inclusion by opening up the Games to local communities and territories". He explained how it has become crucial to consider public opinions’ expectations towards international events as they increasingly call for sustainability and sobriety.

Melbourne's Approach

Gönül Serbest shared Melbourne's approach to using sports as a tool for inclusion and unity. Leveraging its rich sporting tradition, Melbourne unites diverse communities around international events like the Australian Open.

The event highlighted how sports can build cohesive communities and create enduring legacies both internationally and nationally. The discussions underscored that sports diplomacy is a powerful tool for inspiring generations.

The roundtable concluded with a call to action for nations to leverage sports as a means to foster international relations. The UAE remains committed to promoting these ideals through continuous engagement on a global scale.

With inputs from WAM