Today's Edition
ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)
The third UAE School Games has kicked off, bringing together students across the UAE’s public and private schools under the umbrella of one tournament.
A total of 7,096 students from 518 schools are participating in this annual championship, being held under the patronage of Dr. Ahmad Al Falasi, Minister of Sports.
The championship is being organised by the UAE Schools and University Sports Federation (UAESUSF), in partnership with the Ministry of Sports (MoS), the Ministry of Education, the National Olympic Committee, the Sports Councils of Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah, and various strategic partners. It is a part of an integrated national ecosystem that offers more opportunities for the UAE’s athletes to ensure great achievements in both regional and international venues.
On the occasion, Sheikh Suhail bin Butti Al Maktoum, Assistant Undersecretary for Sports Development and Competitiveness at the MoS and President of UAESUSF, said that the Games offer “a comprehensive national framework that reinforces the role of sports within the educational environment, contributes to the development of a generation with strong physical fitness and athletic skills, and instils trust in the values of fair competition, discipline and teamwork.”
He affirmed that the championship marks one of the major pillars within the Ministry’s and the Federation’s plans to discover and nurture sporting talents and create future champions from the country.
It helps establish an integrated educational and sporting environment that allows students to strengthen their skills, aligning with the objectives of the National Sports Strategy 2031, given its role in achieving the national target of increasing the number of athletes qualifying for the Olympic Games to over 30 athletes by the 2032 Olympics.
This year’s edition features competitions across 13 individual and team sports, which will be held in two phases. The first phase includes football, athletics, archery, badminton, laser run and table tennis.
It also includes the debut of obstacle course racing, which enhances the diversity of programmes while aligning with students’ interests and supporting wider participation in sports and achievement of national sporting ambitions. The second phase will include categories such as chess, fencing, judo, jiu-jitsu, taekwondo and swimming.
The competitions will be held throughout the academic year, with the initial phase running from January 12 to February 10, followed by the second phase from April 1 to 30. This will culminate in the finals and an awards ceremony on May 23.
Students who qualify from both phases will then get to compete at the national level in the finals, with the top three participants receiving gold, silver and bronze medals.
Over the past editions, the School Games has achieved remarkable success. The two previous editions, along with the pilot edition, witnessed the participation of nearly 12,166 male and female students and the recognition of 1,928 champions.
In addition, the UAE Committee for Talent and Sports Support, in collaboration with Elite Sport UAE, continues to conduct detailed assessments and offer tailored training programmes for winners to ensure their continued development.
These efforts are complemented by cutting-edge technologies and internationally specialised teams, positioning athletes on clear pathways to sporting excellence aligned with global best practices.
