Leading sports stars to back Dubai Sports World event

Dubai Sports Council (DSC) has contributed five Emiratis — four of whom are UAE internationals — to the line-up of DSW ambassadors.

Ahmed Khalil is among the stars who will share his expertise with the youngters at the DSW event. — KT file

Dubai: A star-studded roster of leading Emirati, Arab world and expatriate personalities will be keeping an eye out for emerging talent during this summer’s landmark fifth edition of Dubai Sports World (DSW) here.

Dubai Sports Council (DSC) has contributed five Emiratis — four of whom are UAE internationals — to the line-up of DSW ambassadors, including footballers Ahmed Khalil and Habib Al Fardan; basketball playmaker Talal Al Dhaheri; handball player Abdullah Al Baloshi and female badminton icon and local sports pioneer Muna Al Sahlawi. The final three ambassadors are Egyptian Hesham Kamel, a Parkour and Street Workout instructor for UAE-based urban movement organisation Against GraviTi, and RAGE Team skateboarders Lawrence Jokum and Kareen Nassar.

As part of their participation at this year’s 10-week DSW, which runs from June 21 to August 29 at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), the ambassadors will make regular scouting trips to the multi-sport facility to identify the most promising youth players taking part in numerous sports across the 22,000m², fully air-conditioned, indoor venue. The group will assess children of all ages and ethnicities, including those enrolled in academy concepts running seasonal training programmes and others playing socially with friends. The most promising youngsters will be invited to take part in a ‘Final Trial,’ after which the Emirati quintet will crown various winners as the ‘DSW Stars of 2015.’

“As part of our vision to promote a healthy community, we’ve enlisted the support of the some of the UAE’s most successful champions to engage with children and be positive role models,” said the DSC’s secretary general Saeed Hareb.

“Our line-up of Dubai Sports Council ambassadors are some of the country’s most successful sportspeople and there’s no-one better to judge the stars of tomorrow than the stars of today.”

Ahmed Alkhaja, Senior Vice President, Venues, DWTC, added: “The ambassador initiative represents the first time we have embarked on a talent-recognition programme of this scope.

“As the region’s largest and most dynamic multi-sport venue, Dubai Sports World is a wonderfully diverse platform for sports authorities to identify the next generation of UAE-based sports stars.”

Having won numerous regional and continental tournaments across various age groups for the UAE’s youth sides, Khalil — who also played in the UAE’s history-making U23 team at the 2012 London Olympic Games — is arguably the most well-known ambassador.

The 23-year-old striker, who plays for Al Ahli, is excited about engaging with the next generation. “Our country’s visionary leaders have built a very strong infrastructure of world-class sports facilities to aid the development and progression of local talent,” said Khalil.  “I’m looking forward to seeing our best young talent get their game on.”