UAE: National Sports Strategy 2031 Reflects Importance of Sports Sector

Sheikh Ahmed said the new strategy reflects the importance the leadership places on the growth of the sports sector. WAM
Sheikh Ahmed said the new strategy reflects the importance the leadership places on the growth of the sports sector. WAM
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UAE: National Sports Strategy 2031 Reflects Importance of Sports Sector

Sheikh Ahmed said the new strategy reflects the importance the leadership places on the growth of the sports sector. WAM
Sheikh Ahmed said the new strategy reflects the importance the leadership places on the growth of the sports sector. WAM

Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Second Deputy Ruler of Dubai and President of the UAE National Olympic Committee (NOC), hailed the decision of the UAE Cabinet chaired by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to approve the National Sports Strategy 2031.

Sheikh Ahmed said the new strategy reflects the importance the leadership places on the growth of the sports sector and its role in advancing the nation’s prosperity and welfare.

He praised the strategy, which seeks to implement 17 initiatives in the coming years. The objectives of these initiatives include developing sports professionals, discovering talented athletes in schools, upgrading the sports education methodology, enhancing regulations governing the sector, and raising the proportion of people practicing diverse sports to 71% of the population.

He also said that efforts to develop sports professionals are aligned with the NOC’s efforts to prepare professional athletes for major regional and international competitions, in accordance with the criteria set by the Committee.

He further said the Committee’s efforts have been instrumental in increasing the proportion of people practicing different sports to 71% of the population by 2031.

The NOC has launched many initiatives to promote sports in the community, he added.



Bellingham Leads Madrid Past Mallorca to Set Up a Spanish Super Cup Final Against Barcelona

Soccer Football - Spanish Super Cup - Semi Final - Real Madrid v RCD Mallorca - King Abdullah Sports City, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - January 9, 2025 Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham celebrates scoring their first goal REUTERS/Pedro Nunes
Soccer Football - Spanish Super Cup - Semi Final - Real Madrid v RCD Mallorca - King Abdullah Sports City, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - January 9, 2025 Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham celebrates scoring their first goal REUTERS/Pedro Nunes
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Bellingham Leads Madrid Past Mallorca to Set Up a Spanish Super Cup Final Against Barcelona

Soccer Football - Spanish Super Cup - Semi Final - Real Madrid v RCD Mallorca - King Abdullah Sports City, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - January 9, 2025 Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham celebrates scoring their first goal REUTERS/Pedro Nunes
Soccer Football - Spanish Super Cup - Semi Final - Real Madrid v RCD Mallorca - King Abdullah Sports City, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - January 9, 2025 Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham celebrates scoring their first goal REUTERS/Pedro Nunes

Jude Bellingham scored again to lead Real Madrid into the Spanish Super Cup final with a 3-0 win over Mallorca in Saudi Arabia on Thursday.
The England midfielder, who led Madrid in scoring last season, started this campaign slowly but has netted seven goals in his last eight Spanish league games, The Associated Press reported.
He notched another goal in 63rd minute of the Super Cup semifinal when he finally broke down a tough Mallorca that until his goal had imposed its defensive style on the star-studded Madrid.
Bellingham blasted in the third shot in a row by Madrid after Rodrygo initially hit the post and goalkeeper Dominik Greif blocked a follow-up by Kylian Mbappé. Bellingham collected the rebound and slotted his shot from just outside the six-yard box under the on-rushing Greif and past three defenders who were trying to protect the goalmouth.
Madrid tacked on two goals late in stoppage time. Mallorca's Martin Valjent scored an own goal when he inadvertently turned a pass by Brahim Díaz into his net. Rodrygo then took Madrid's third.
The match ended with a short scuffle after the final whistle before calm was restored. It started when Bellingham slapped the back of the neck of Mallorca defender Pablo Maffeo, who had had an intense duel with Vinícius Júnior during the game.
Barcelona awaits Madrid in Sunday’s final.
Madrid lost Aurélien Tchouaméni, a midfielder playing as a central defender, in the 54th after he took a hard knock to the head during a collision with a Mallorca player. Youth player Raúl Asencio replaced him.
Madrid was competing as last season’s Spanish league champion, while Mallorca was invited as the runner-up in the Copa del Rey.
Former Madrid striker Karim Benzema, who now plays in the Saudi Arabian league, was in attendance.