ADSC league launched in Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi: The Abu Dhabi Sports Council, in partnership with the Ministry of Education and the Department of Knowledge and Education, announced on Sunday the launch of Abu Dhabi Schools Champions (ADSC), a new multi-sports league to develop and empower youth sports and athleticism and embed healthy lifestyles among school children in the capital.

The announcement about this groundbreaking initiative was made at a press conference held on Sunday at the Council in Abu Dhabi in the presence of Aref Hamad Al Awani, Secretary General, Abu Dhabi Sports, Humaid Abdulla, Director of Student Affairs, Ministry of Education and Nasser Khamis, representing the Department of Education and Knowledge and Hussein Murad, CEO, Inspiratus, the organising company for the tournament.

ADSC will be open to all public and private schools, free of charge, encouraging the youth of Abu Dhabi to be active, gain tournament exposure at world-class standards and to be discovered by Abu Dhabi clubs.

This is a very significant announcement which delivers on Abu Dhabi Sports Council’s vision and leadership’s directive to elevate the level of school sports in the country and the shared vision with the UAE educational authorities’ mission to raise a healthy future generation.

Taking place across Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Al Dhafra, Abu Dhabi Schools Champions and targeting all 411 private and public schools, it will enable all public and private school children in Cycles 1, 2 & 3 in the Emirate to compete in 7 sanctioned sports: football, basketball, volleyball, handball, athletics, swimming and gymnastics.  

Partnering with Abu Dhabi Clubs, Abu Dhabi Schools Champions will create a pipeline of athletes for UAE clubs, through its talent identification platform. Scouts will be invited to all games to identify and select talents for their teams and scouted talents will undergo a selection process with rounds of trials and annual announcements for selected players.

Speaking at the press conference, Awani said: ”We are proud to launch the Abu Dhabi Schools Champions today, with our partners the Ministry of Education and the Department of Education and Knowledge and which is paving the way for youth to cultivate their sporting talents and aptitudes, and encourage their passion to excel.

“The tournament is in line with the Council’s mission to advance sporting excellence and create home-grown sporting superstars and role models, while also encouraging healthy habits through sports from a young age that will become life-long healthy lifestyles.”

Abdulla, Director of Student Affairs, Ministry of Education, said: “Through our partnership with the Abu Dhabi Sports Council and the Department of Education and Knowledge, we seek to provide students with opportunities to participate in professional world-class competitions.

“The Abu Dhabi Schools Champions provides such opportunities which promote schools sports excellence, while nurturing students’ physical, mental and emotional development.”