The General Authority of Sports (GAS) convened a media briefing to discuss the Federal Law No. 4 of 2023 concerning sports.
This law is unprecedented in the UAE's sports sector due to its comprehensive new articles and provisions, which will contribute significantly to achieving the desired development in all aspects of sports work. This development perfectly aligns with the National Sports Strategy 2031 objectives, which aim to enhance the regulatory framework and sports infrastructure.
The briefing was led by Saeed Abdul Ghaffar Hussein, Director-General of GAS, in the presence of Sheikh Suhail bin Butti Al Maktoum, Executive Director of the Sports Development Sector at GAS, and members of the Supreme Committee for Drafting the Sports Law.
During the briefing, attendees were provided with an overview of the law's most notable articles, meticulously crafted and aligned with the best international sports practices under the Olympic Charter, the Paralympic Charter, and relevant national and international laws and regulations.
“The Sports Law unifies and integrates the objectives set for developing the sports sector at the federal and local levels. It does so by promoting more involvement in sports across all segments of society and supporting the capabilities of competent authorities to offer accessible sports and physical activities.
“This includes the provision of world-class sports facilities and equipment, encouraging sports and physical education in government institutions, facilitating participation for people of determination, promoting sports in schools and universities, and fostering a sports-centric culture throughout society,” he added.
The Sports Law targets three basic sports segments, the first being community sports players, as it encourages all groups of society to participate in physical and sporting activities, individually or collectively. This, held under the slogan "Sports For All", is to increase the proportion of individuals participating in diverse sports to 71 percent, in line with the National Sports Strategy 2031.
The second segment consists of competitive sports players and aims to assist sports entities in achieving sports excellence on a local and global scale by promoting competition and talent discovery.
The third segment includes people of determination, as the law encourages them to participate in all physical and sporting activities in clubs, schools, and workplaces. They can also form national teams to participate in major sporting events.
Likewise, the law also targets ten supporting segments consisting of Government and private sports entities, including the National Olympic Committee, the National Paralympic Committee, the National Anti-Doping Agency, the Olympic and non-Olympic sports federations, and private sports clubs. Additionally, public-private sports facilities, sports arbitration, the health sector, students, athletes in the military services and police, and all other stakeholders will be impacted by the new law.
The new law also includes an article on the support and growth of elite and high-level sports and the preparation of national sports teams to compete in international events, which will increase opportunities for sporting accomplishments at the continental, global, and Olympic levels. This will pave the way for one of the National Sports Strategy 2031's most prominent goals: to have more than 30 Olympic participants by 2031.
Furthermore, the law supports the establishment of sports associations and encourages their autonomy. This will enable them to play their role in organising and managing relevant sporting events, as well as highlighting the commitment of sports clubs and federations to maintain the safety and health of athletes within an anti-doping environment.
The law strongly emphasises how students can develop their athletic abilities. In addition to allocating a percentage of its resources to the activities of various age groups, it focuses on creating national plans to identify and foster sporting talents in sports clubs and schools in collaboration with the relevant authorities.
The law strongly emphasises how students can develop their athletic abilities. In addition to allocating a percentage of its resources to the activities of various age groups, it focuses on creating national plans to identify and foster sporting talents in sports clubs and schools in collaboration with the relevant authorities.
In the following phase, GAS seeks to issue executive and supplementary sports law regulations. Through implementing the new law, the Authority aims to promote its efforts in strengthening sports authorities' adherence to the norms and standards of sustainability and leadership, developing their working systems, and improving their performance to achieve institutional excellence.
Attribution: https://www.wam.ae/en/details/1395303199255
