Earlier, interest-free loans were announced for Emiratis whose businesses were affected by the rains, with a grace period of 6 to 12 months
uae4 hours ago
Baseball may not have originated in the US, but no one plays the sport as passionately as its citizens do. Most Americans have held the heavy bat at least once in their lives, let alone swung it during school events and extra-curricular activities.
According to Statista.com, around 492,000 students participated in US high school baseball programmes in the year 2016-2017. This is one among many factors that earned it its official status as a national sport.
Baseball holds such a prominent position in the US that many youngsters aspire to carve a career in Major League Baseball. Expatriate youth in the UAE too have an opportunity to dream big, thanks to the Dubai Little League, which hosts regular matches, in partnership with Emirates, Jumeirah Group, ADCB and other sponsors.
"Dubai Little League was established about 20 years ago, and we have been playing at Al Qouz Pond Park for the last 15 years," says John Fekete, President of the Dubai Little League, who had volunteered to take over the position about four years ago but has been active in the league for seven years.
Some players from the Dubai Little League U15 Boys team (alongside the U18 Boys team) will participate in the Lake Oswego Firecracker 4th of July tournament in Oregon.
With the support of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the group grew from a handful of enthusiasts to around 500 members in total, with players hailing from over 50 different countries.
"We're a developmental league. We are here to help people understand, love the game, and appreciate the community. We are able to cater to young aspirations to play baseball on a professional level, and we are also open to beginners who just want to come down and have fun," he says.
Dubai Little League also extends its field to instil sportsmanship and passion for baseball among the Determined Ones, who are officially known as the Dubai Challengers League. "This is something close to our hearts and it feels wonderful to be able to give back to the community," Fekete says.
The group has been successful in integrating and encouraging teamwork and confidence among youth through baseball across the city.
"The game depends on how well a player coordinates with one another, and we have been able to foster a great community. While the league is exclusively for youth aged four to 18 years, older players have the opportunity to coach and manage them," he says, adding that their game seasons start in November and end in April.
Making of a global sport The U.S.' national sport is now making its way towards internationalisation, following recent news that announced the Major League Baseball (MLB) seasonal games in London in June 2019. With a growing interest in baseball from expatriates and corporates, coupled with a progressive environment and enviable landscapes, the MLB is likely to expand into the Middle East. |
Earlier, interest-free loans were announced for Emiratis whose businesses were affected by the rains, with a grace period of 6 to 12 months
uae4 hours ago
Following a $3 per barrel average global price increase in March, petrol prices for April increased by 12 fils per litre in the UAE
uae4 hours ago
Annual rents in Dubai are usually paid in two, four or six instalments via post-dated cheques
business4 hours ago
NCM official says May 2-3 is identified as the ‘peak’ of the situation
weather4 hours ago
PSG are still involved in the Champions League in what could turn out to be the club's finest ever season
football10 hours ago
World number three Alcaraz, 20, missed a month prior to Madrid with a forearm issue
tennis10 hours ago
It was Chennai's fifth win from nine matches as they moved to third place in the points table with 10 points
cricket10 hours ago
Earlier, Arsenal held on for a pulsating 3-2 win over arch rivals Tottenham
football12 hours ago