Ahmed bin Mohammed: Sport is a universal language characterized by tolerance and peace between nations and peoples

HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of the National Olympic Committee and Chairman of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Sports Innovation, one of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, welcomed participants to the International Sports Innovation Conference, which is being held today at the Hilton Al Habtoor Hotel - City, with the slogan «tolerance and peace in sport».

In line with the Year of Tolerance, and in line with the award's role in empowering communities, we are pleased to work towards the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to empower communities and promote cooperation and peace in the region. Among them, through several initiatives including the organization of this international conference, with the participation of government sports leaders and champions who have made an imprint in the history of Olympic and global sports, as well as Arab athletes champions promising young people, to strengthen the role of sport in the empowerment of societies and consolidate the values ​​of tolerance and peace between countries and communities In the world".

His Highness added: “We were keen on choosing the theme of the conference and the focus of the sessions and speakers to represent different generations of athletes, government leaders and international organizations, who belong to different nationalities, in order to emphasize that sport is a global language characterized by tolerance and peace among nations and peoples. Between the components of one community, and that the sports hero represents a role model and model, not only for the youth of his homeland but for the whole world, and receive the appreciation and respect that he deserves ».

His Highness continued: “We hope that our sports sector in the UAE and the Arab world will benefit from this conference to spread and promote the noble values ​​of sport and its effective international community role. We will continue our efforts in cooperation with international organizations and unions to support initiatives that support the values ​​of tolerance and peace in sport in the world.” .

His Highness concluded: «The role of the award does not stop at the limits of honoring athletes with creative experiences in each session, and meet with the winners in the forum of creators, but extends to the industry of sports creativity and entrenched as an approach in sports work, through seminars and conferences that contribute to the dissemination of culture of creativity and excellence In sports work ».

The International Sports Innovation Conference will witness four sessions, with the participation of 11 speakers of different generations, all of whom will speak on topics consistent with the theme of the conference, and the role of the award in the development of the sports sector in the UAE, the Arab world and the world.

The first session will start at 9:30 am and will be titled “Sport is the language of tolerance”. It will be moderated by the program director of the Dubai Sports Channel, Meshal Al-Qahtani, where the Egyptian judo champion, Mohamed Rashwan will speak, alongside Italian Daniela Bass, who runs the division. Comprehensive social development of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs since 2011.

The second session will be moderated by Raya Rammal of Dubai TV, entitled “Diplomacy for Sport”, in which the Minister of Youth and Sports of Zimbabwe, Kirsty Coventry, who is a member of the International Olympic Committee as a representative of athletes, as well as a member of the African Olympic Committee, and the International Anti-Doping Agency. And one of the most important mathematical symbols of the world.

The third session will be dedicated to young champions, and will be moderated by Deputy Director of Dubai Sports Channels, Hassan Habib. Mohamed Ayed Al-Asiri, Egyptian pentathlon champion Ahmed El-Gendi, Moroccan Taekwondo champion Fatima Zahra and national equestrian champion Omar Marzouki.

The conference will conclude with the fourth and final session, titled “Experience of a Champion”, which will be moderated by Abu Dhabi Sports Channel Director, Yaqoub Al Saadi. The athletics legend, Karl Lewis, who participated in four Olympic Games and won the title of “Century Athlete”, will speak.

Most notable participants

Carl Lewis

He participated in four Olympic Games and won the title of "Century Athlete", winning 10 Olympic medals including nine golds, in addition to 10 medals in world championships.

Kirsty Coventry

Zimbabwe's Minister of Youth and Sports, a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as a representative of athletes, is considered the best African swimmer with seven Olympic medals.

Sonia bin Sheikh

The Minister of Youth and Sports Affairs of the Republic of Tunisia has concluded several partnership agreements with the Ministry of Health and the Tunisian Athletics University, to support and develop sport in general in the school and university circles.

Daniela Bass

She has been managing the Comprehensive Social Development Division of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs since 2011.

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He won world respect after winning the silver medal at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics and applied the sporting spirit in the final against the injured Japanese champion.

- The conference will witness four sessions with the participation of 11 speakers from different generations.