Dubai takes baby steps in bringing fans back
DSC’S FORUM DISCUSSES MODALITIES TO KEEP THEMSELVES READY
Encouraged by the zero incidence of coronavirus cases at any of the already-opened sport activities and coaching academies, Dubai showed an advanced state of readiness for the possible opening up of spectator-driven events in the emirate in the near future.
“We are not here to make any decisions, but we are here only to lay the protocol and ground rules for the future, should the proper authorities signal the start of all sport activities in Dubai,” Saeed Hareb, General Secretary, Dubai Sports Council (DSC), told participants at the special forum at Al Nasr Club, organised in collaboration with Dubai Police yesterday.
Held under the slogan ‘Your Commitment to Happiness’, the forum titled ‘Return of Spectators to Sports Stadiums’ attracted a range of speakers from varied sports including football, basketball and golf to discuss precautionary measures and protocols for the safe return of spectators to the events when competitions resume following weeks of stoppage due to the pandemic.
“We have opened up the sport academies all over Dubai with significant inputs from Michel Salgado [former Real Madrid legend who runs his own academy in Dubai] who showed us the way on how to operate during these tough times.
At the moment, the question here is not just about the players, but about the families, the spectators and all others who may be at risk while just attending a football match,” Hareb noted.
“We need to be in a state of readiness. We need to be thankful to Dubai Police for creating such a wonderful and safe environment for everyone. And should the orders come for spectators to be present at matches, then we will need to follow the percentage principle suggested by the police,” he added.
Major General Abdullah Al Ghaithi, Director of the General
Authority for Security of Bodies, Installations and Emergencies in Dubai Police, disclosed that the special police team created has already visited all clubs within Dubai for preparing their report on a possible restart.
“Over years, Dubai Police has been the benchmark internationally for arrangements at sporting events. Basically, we’ve stuck to the same protocol that has been designed and used at the opening of clubs and academies some two weeks ago,” Al Ghaithi said.
“And since there has been no positive Covid-19 case reported from any of these clubs since that date of reopening [May 27], we are further encouraged to look positively to the future,” he added.
Should the orders come for spectators to be present at matches, then we will need to follow the percentage principle suggested by the police.” Saeed Hareb » General Secretary of Dubai Sports Council