Honouring pioneers is consolidation of values of giving and loyalty: Mansoor

Sheikh Mansoor Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Sports Council, has confirmed the implementation of the directives of the Executive Council of Government of Dubai regarding the financial self-sufficiency of football companies in Dubai, as it is one of the most important elements of successful professionalism, and a major incentive for developing effective work plans, for optimal investment of resources and for activating investments in football companies.

Sheikh Mansoor also stressed that the Dubai Sports Council will continue to honour the pioneers of UAE’s sports sector as part of its Dubai Sports Excellence Model to consolidate the values of giving and loyalty in sports, and to recognise those who have left a clear imprint at their clubs and national teams, and contributed to laying the foundations of success and excellence in Dubai clubs.

This came during the second meeting of Dubai Sports Council’s Board of Directors for the year 2021, which was held virtually, through video conferencing. The meeting was chaired by Sheikh Mansoor, and Mattar Al Tayer, Vice Chairman of the council, participated in the meeting alongside Major General Abdullah Khalifa Al Marri, and members of the Board of Directors – Dr Abdulla Al Karam, Maryam Al Hammadi, Mohammed Al Kamali, Ahmad Al Shafar, Moaza Saeed Al Marri, and Saeed Hareb, Secretary General of the council – and Nasser Aman Al Rahma, Assistant Secretary General of the Council.

The meeting discussed the implementation of the financial self-sufficiency initiative in Dubai football companies, for which a timeline was set in accordance with the directives of the Executive Council of Government of Dubai and to meet the strategic objectives of Dubai Sports Council. The initiative was also in line with the requirements of professional football.

The meeting also discussed a technical report prepared by Dubai Municipality in cooperation with Dubai Sports Council for the maintenance of Shabab Al Ahli’s Rashid Stadium in Al Qusais and and Al Wasl’s Zabeel Stadium, and the development of a number of areas within the stadiums. The Board is keen to implement these suggestions and upgrade the facilities at Dubai’s stadiums because, in recent times, the UAE, Dubai in particular, has emerged as the favourite destination of top football clubs and national teams for their training camps and offshore friendly matches.

Dubai Sports Council has a long-standing partnership with Dubai Municipality and they have worked together on the construction, development and maintenance of sports facilities over the years, and their cooperation has resulted in the construction of some of Dubai’s most-iconic sports landmarks like the Hamdan Sports Complex and Al Nasr’s Al Maktoum Stadium, as well as the Hamdan Bin Rashid Stadium, the home of Hatta Sports Club, and a number of swimming pools and sports halls.

In accordance with the decision of The Executive Council of Dubai, the Board of Directors reviewed the terms and conditions for using ‘Dubai’ in the name of sports events. Dubai has emerged as a symbol of excellence and creativity, synonymous with success in all spheres, and sports events using the Emirate’s name should be commensurate with the status Dubai enjoys internationally.

The terms and conditions for using Dubai’s name by sports events will be sent to the official legislative authorities of the Emirate of Dubai for the purpose of issuing them as part of an official decision that is binding on all parties working in the organisation of sports events in Dubai and the sectors supporting them.

The meeting approved the organization of the eighth edition of Dubai Sports Excellence Model, which will honour Dubai’s athletes, clubs and football companies for their excellence in two distinct set of categories: Institutional Excellence and Individual Excellence.

There will be four awards categories under Institutional Excellence: Sports Excellence Award-Clubs; Sports Excellence Award-Football Companies; Best Club and Company in the Face of Covid-19 pandemic; and Best Club and Company in the field of Institutional Efficiency.

In the Individual Excellence segment, there are five Award categories: Best Player in Individual Sports; Best Player in Team Sports; Best Football Player; Best Athlete of Determination in Individual Sports; Best Athlete of Determination in Team Sports.

The Board of Directors also reviewed the names of sports personalities who will be honoured at the 8th Dubai Sports Excellence Model awards ceremony within the appreciation category called “Pioneers of Sports Work”, which seeks to acknowledge and honour athletes and individuals, whose sincerity and dedication have laid and strengthened the foundations of Dubai’s sports sector.