UAE government plans to develop winter sports

Representatives of the United Arab Emirates General Sports Authority (GSA) held talks with international winter sports organisations. Their main objective is to develop and popularise winter sports in the UAE.

Sheikh Suhail bin Butti Al Maktoum, Executive Director of the GSA’s Sports Development Sector, met with Kim Jae Yul, President of the International Skating Union (ISU), and Aivaz Omorkanov, Vice President of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF). The meeting discussed possible ways and means of co-operation and partnership with IIHF and ISU in the field of winter sports.

In addition, the meeting discussed the development of rules and regulations for ice sports, as well as the possibility of using renewable energy sources, especially solar energy, in the infrastructure of ice sports facilities in order to increase environmental friendliness.

Sheikh Suheil bin Butti said the sports body’s objective is to make the UAE an international centre for the championships, given its developed and convenient sports infrastructure.

Kim Jae Yul praised the UAE’s efforts in terms of developing winter sports, stressing that the Emirates have shown brilliant results in ice hockey in a short period of time and have also become an example and role model in women’s speed skating.

Aivaz Omorkanov also praised the successes achieved by the UAE in ice sports, especially hockey, and expressed readiness to cooperate with the Emirates to popularise winter sports in Asia.

Source: ArabianBusiness

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