UAE Ministry Of Sports Conducts Inaugural Comprehensive Talent Assessment Tests For Athletes

The UAE Committee for Talent and National Sports Support (UAETSS) recently conducted its first talent assessment tests for athletes registered on the Talent Committee Platform. Held over three days at the e& Academy for Sports and Leisure Club, these assessments were overseen by the Ministry of Sports. This initiative underscores the platform's success, which received applications from 800 athletes, with 126 shortlisted for testing.

Sheikh Suhail bin Butti Al Maktoum, Assistant Under-Secretary for Sports Development and Competitiveness Sector at the Ministry of Sports and Chairman of UAETSS, emphasised the assessments' role in creating a national framework for identifying and developing talent. He noted that the 'Talent Committee Platform' is crucial in connecting athletes with relevant sports entities, fostering a new generation capable of representing the UAE internationally.

The assessments included various physical, psychological, and cognitive evaluations such as sprint speed, jump strength, response time, growth measurement, and physical maturity. These tests aim to identify each athlete's potential accurately while ensuring fairness through a unified evaluation criterion. The goal is to discover exceptional talents who will receive training through specialised development programmes.

Suhail bin Butti Al Maktoum highlighted that these initiatives not only foster fair competition but also refine athletes' skills for future success. The Committee employs a holistic approach from early talent identification to development programs that include training camps and technical support while coordinating with federations, clubs, and educational institutions.

A distinguished group of global specialists in sports talent identification supervised the assessments alongside national professionals. This ensures alignment with international best practices. Athletes from 27 different sports disciplines were invited, including aquathlon, archery, athletics, badminton, boxing, chess, motorsports (drifting and track racing), fencing, football, golf, gymnastics, jet-ski racing, jiu-jitsu, judo, karate, karting, mixed martial arts (MMA), open-water swimming, sailing, skiing, ice-skating, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis and triathlon.

The Committee uses scientific and transparent assessment mechanisms based on international standards to guide athletes according to their unique capabilities. This comprehensive vision aims to strengthen the national sports ecosystem by nurturing talents across diverse disciplines.

These efforts are part of a broader strategy to develop a competitive environment that prepares athletes for success on regional and international stages. By leveraging advanced assessment techniques and fostering collaboration among various sports entities in the UAE.

With inputs from WAM