The Organising Committee of the inaugural Gulf Youth Games has confirmed that the sports facilities in the five host Emirates — Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, and Fujairah — are ready to host the event, in collaboration with the National Olympic Committee, the General Sports Authority, and sports councils.
Set to take place from April 16th to May 2nd, the Gulf Youth Games will feature 3,500 male and female athletes from the GCC competing in 25 sports under the theme “Our Gulf is One… Our Youth is Promising.” Abu Dhabi will host sports like football and swimming, Dubai will feature table tennis and esports, Sharjah will include basketball and chess, Fujairah will have taekwondo and fencing, and Ajman will host triathlon events.
Nabil Ashour, Chairman of the Technical Committee, of the inaugural Gulf Youth Games, stated that 99% of the facilities are approved, with the final approvals pending to ensure their readiness. Specialized sports like equestrian and archery will undergo additional assessments.
Each host location reflects the popularity of certain sports, with jiu-jitsu in Abu Dhabi and handball in Sharjah. Teams will arrive a day before their technical meetings, with representatives from each emirate ensuring the provision of necessary arrangements.
The UAE Judo Federation has selected juniors for a training camp in Tunisia, while the UAE Sailing and Rowing Federation announced its team for modern sailing competitions. The UAE Archery Federation has selected players for archery, expressing optimism about the sport’s growth.
The UAE Golf Federation is also preparing its teams, emphasising the importance of local and regional tournaments for player development.
Ahmed Al-Tayeb, appointed as the director of the UAE sports delegation, highlighted the importance of efficient management for the successful hosting of the games on UAE soil. A meeting is scheduled for April 14th in Dubai to finalise the hosting arrangements.