عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Culture

Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Center, Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation Seek to Enhance Collaboration

The MoU seeks to enhance collaboration across various cultural and intellectual fields, opening new prospects for supporting youth cultural engagement. WAM
The MoU seeks to enhance collaboration across various cultural and intellectual fields, opening new prospects for supporting youth cultural engagement. WAM
TT
TT

Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Center, Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation Seek to Enhance Collaboration

The MoU seeks to enhance collaboration across various cultural and intellectual fields, opening new prospects for supporting youth cultural engagement. WAM
The MoU seeks to enhance collaboration across various cultural and intellectual fields, opening new prospects for supporting youth cultural engagement. WAM

The Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Center (ALC) has signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation (MBRF) to enhance collaboration across various cultural and intellectual fields, opening new prospects for supporting youth cultural engagement.

Under the terms of the MoU, the Foundation will offer ALC members specialized training programs, developed in collaboration with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), to enhance participants’ skills and capabilities, Emirates News Agency (WAM) reported Wednesday.

The partnership also sets the stage for fruitful cooperation in the field of translation. Talented Emirati graduates of MBRF’s Translation Program contribute to the ALC’s Kalima Translation Project.

Moreover, the two organizations will coordinate efforts to nominate outstanding participants from MBRF’s creative content development programs for the Center’s literary awards and research grants, in an effort to support Arabic content and creativity, WAM said.

They will also collaborate on print and digital publishing, providing integrated services such as typesetting, layout, translation, design, and printing, while committing to international quality standards at competitive prices.

The MoU was signed during the ‘Arabian Days’ Festival by Dr. Ali bin Tamim, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Center, and Jamal bin Huwaireb, CEO of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation.

Most Viewed

 
 
Culture

Sumo to Stage Event in Paris as Part of Global Push

People gather at the entrance of Ryogoku Kokugikan for the arrival of sumo wrestlers during the Grand Sumo Tournament in Tokyo on January 19, 2025. (AFP)
People gather at the entrance of Ryogoku Kokugikan for the arrival of sumo wrestlers during the Grand Sumo Tournament in Tokyo on January 19, 2025. (AFP)
TT
TT

Sumo to Stage Event in Paris as Part of Global Push

People gather at the entrance of Ryogoku Kokugikan for the arrival of sumo wrestlers during the Grand Sumo Tournament in Tokyo on January 19, 2025. (AFP)
People gather at the entrance of Ryogoku Kokugikan for the arrival of sumo wrestlers during the Grand Sumo Tournament in Tokyo on January 19, 2025. (AFP)

Sumo will stage a tournament in Paris for the first time in over three decades next year in a push to expand the ancient sport beyond Japan, organizers said Sunday.

Accor Arena, which hosted basketball and gymnastics events at last year's Paris Olympics, will stage a two-day competition featuring top wrestlers in the French capital in June 2026.

Japan Sumo Association (JSA) officials announced last month that they will also stage a tournament later this year at London's Royal Albert Hall -- the first overseas sumo competition in 20 years.

"It's important for us to show our sport to the world," JSA chairman Hakkaku told reporters at Tokyo's Kokugikan, where the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament is currently taking place.

"And for the wrestlers, they're the best in the world, they should be proud of that and see that they're admired all over the world."

Paris hosted sumo tournaments in 1986 and 1995 at the invitation of former French president Jacques Chirac, who was known to be a huge fan of the centuries-old sport.

Hakkaku, who competed at the 1986 Paris event, said he was "grateful for the long and deep relations between sumo and France".

"We feel renewed joy and great responsibility as we prepare for our third performance in Paris in 2026," he said.

"We are committed to fully sharing the charm of sumo... with the French people."

French organizers said they would pull out all the stops to recreate the atmosphere of a sumo tournament in Japan.

David Rothschild, promoter and executive producer for events organizers AEG, said the Paris tournament would be part of a "festival" celebrating Japanese culture.

"When you say the word sumo, everyone in France knows it represents traditional Japanese culture," he said.

"There was a time when it was shown on TV and there are people in France who are very knowledgeable about it," Rothschild added.

"But time flies and we want to introduce the beauty of sumo to a new generation."

Sumo has staged events in several countries around the world, including the Soviet Union, Mexico and the United States.

The last overseas tournament organized by the JSA was in Las Vegas in 2005.

Hakkaku, the JSA chairman, said the association's efforts to bring sumo to audiences abroad were meant to "introduce people to the traditional culture of Japan".

"We thought a lot about how to develop our sport after Covid and I think this was the best idea, but it was already in our plans before that," he said.