DSC charts out future development course
Tokyo Olympics in 2020 a realistic landmark, says Maryam
dubai — A sports innovation laboratory will be the sole inspiration from where a futuristic plan and strategy will be coined out for the development of sports, according to Maryam Al Hammady, head of Strategic Planning, Dubai Sports Council (DSC).
This was announced during a meeting attended by the top DSC officials including Saeed Hareb, secretary general, and the heads of the media establishments in the country.
With the Tokyo Olympics in 2020 as a realistic landmark to reach, the country’s future in sports will take a course that will be chartered out by a special committee of experts.
“This is my second meeting in this direction,” Maryam said, after Hareb began the discussions by saying that basically 42 initiatives have been earmarked for the purpose.
A realistic goal of the special committee will be to chalk out a plan for the possible number of medals of around 20 from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics
“We have set the period between 2017-21 as the time framework from where we have to work towards the 2021 UAE vision. Gaining medals and higher goals at an Olympics and a Paralympics are main on our agenda,” Maryam continued.
“Quality of life will be a strategic goal as well and we will all strive to achieve this. At the Meydan Hotel we will hold a conference for the innovation lab next month on May 16. This meeting today (Monday) is to get more ideas and suggestions from the leading media hands in sports in the country,” she added.
“What we have to remember is that we have to keep not just the performing athlete in mind but also approach the subject in a holistic
Maryam Al Hammady
way where parents, children, the community and the sport fabric in general come into the picture and contribute positively in one single unit,” Maryam said.
“A realistic goal of the special committee will be to chalk out a plan for the possible number of medals of around 20 from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics,” she said, “The lab will fuel a concept of a unified UAE society rather than just UAE citizen-based campaign.
“UAE Vision 2021 is a great guideline set up by our leaders for an open platform for sharing thoughts and ideas while keeping in mind the greater goal of bringing home more medals from the top meets in the world,” Maryam commented.
“The ‘Dubai Pulse’ programme has managed to address the more pressing problems of obesity and diabetes within our community,” Hareb said, “The overall lab strategies will also enhance the community sports and recreation programmes.”
“Over 200 nationalities reside here and we have to get the assistance and backing of all who contribute to the society here — both expats and emiratis.”
The second part of the two-way discussions will continue in a oneday forum with the various partners at the Meydan Hotel on May 4 where the movement will develop into a more concrete entity, she added.
Maryam concluded her opening speech, saying, “Also, we have set space and time to ponder and develop the idea of promoting futuristic and extreme sports where IT, modern innovations and tools will play bigger roles, though this has to crystalise more.”