A number of sportsmen confirm that most of the international and world competitions held in the country have achieved economic, tourist, and promotional benefits, although, according to sportsmen, sports federations have been unable to leverage this potential for the creation of national Olympic champions. They call on federations to rectify all past mistakes and develop new plans that can utilize the sports impulse of the country to achieve technical goals.
According to them, the country has become an attractive place for successful international events in various fields, including sports competitions, and reached a level of organization unmatched anywhere else in the world. Nevertheless, many of them do not reflect the necessary conditions for creating current champions capable of competing for medals at the Olympic Games.
The sports movement in OAE has won a total of two medals throughout its Olympic history, starting from 1984. One medal was won by Sheikh Ahmed bin Hatcher Al Maktoum in shooting at the Athens 2004 Olympics, and the second medal was won by Sergio Toma at Rio de Janeiro 2016 in the 81 kg judo category.
The former general secretary of the Athletics Federation, Saleh Mohammed Hasan, notes that the country has created conditions for federations to formulate world-class champions, but they have suffered setbacks due to a lack of specific planning within federations and a shortage of qualified personnel in sports management.
Meanwhile, former international athlete Ubaid al-Jasmi emphasizes that the absence of strategic planning from the side of sports federations is the main reason for the stagnation in the development of sportsmen and the creation of world champions in the country.
Overall, international competitions held in OAE, while significantly contributing to tourism and marketing the country, do not always provide the necessary influence on the development of sports. Solving this problem could suggest a more strict development plan based on the elaboration of clear objectives and qualified managerial personnel.
