SPORT IN THE UAE PART 3 – SPORT TODAY AND UAE OLYMPIC HISTORY

Sport in the UAE is widely practiced by all. The UAE has come a long way since the days of just camel racing and falconry though due to the large number of nationalities from all over the world coming to live and work in the country. Participation in, and variety of sports has thus grown.

What do you think is the most popular sport in the UAE today? FOOTBALL! Football is the most popular sport in the UAE. The UAE Football Association was first established in 1971 and since then has dedicated its time and effort to promoting the game, organizing youth programs and improving the abilities of not only its players, but of the officials and coaches involved with its regional teams. The UAE national team qualified for the FIFA world cup in 1990 with Egypt.

The UAE are currently ranked 110th in the world according to the FIFA World Rankings. Abu Dhabi United Group also purchased Manchester City Football Club. All these indicate the interest and love for football in the UAE. There are many football stadiums spread across UAE - Zayed Sports City is the largest sports complex in the country.

Cricket Cricket is one of the most popular sports in the UAE, largely due to the expatriate population from the Indian subcontinent. Both Dubai and Sharjah have hosted international test matches and competitions with countries from around the world participating. Dubai is also home to the International Cricket Council.

Horse racing is another extremely popular sport in the UAE. It is actually more popular than camel racing, even among the Emirati population. Horse racing facilities can be found in every Emirate, however the largest stadium is Meydan in Dubai. This track hosts the richest horse race in the world, the Dubai World Cup horse race with prize money of 10 million dollars for the key race! Horse Racing

Endurance riding or racing is a traditional sport in the UAE. It involves long distance races on horse back. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum is a premiere endurance rider. The UAE claim to be the global leaders of the sport and are campaigning for it to be in the Olympic Games. Endurance Racing and Riding

At the top level, horses cover 160 km in a day. Recently a UAE rider won the young rider world championships. The Dubai Endurance City is leading the sport in the country with many world class endurance yards competing regularly.

UAE Olympic History The UAE have taken part in eight Olympic games – they have never appeared in the Winter Games. In 1984 there were 7 competitors in the Los Angeles games. By 2012, when the games were held in London, the number had increased to 26 competitors. In 2016 the number may be higher again.

Do you think the UAE have ever won any Olympic medals? What sport do you think the UAE could win a medal for?

One medal! GOLD!

In the 2004 Olympic Games held in Athens, Greece, the UAE won its first ever Olympic medal. Sheikh Ahmad bin Mohammad bin Hasher Al Maktoum a member of the ruling family of Dubai, had been participating in hunting since childhood, but it was not until the age of 34 that he took up shooting as a sport. (Earlier, he was the UAE national champion in squash.) At the 2004 Summer Olympics he won the double trap shooting event and finished fourth in the trap event.

He subsequently began coaching young British shooter Peter Wilson, who would win the double trap event at the 2012 London Olympics. Double trap is a shotgun shooting sport. Participants use a shotgun to attempt to break two clay disks flung away from the shooter at high speed. Two targets are released simultaneously from the housing line. The shooter can take one shot at each target.

Optional Extension Activities Key Stage 1 What are the most popular sports in your country? Has your home country taken part in the summer and winter Olympic Games? Do some research – did your home country win any medals at the last Olympic Games (London 2012)?

Key Stage 2 What are the most popular sports in your country? Has your home country taken part in the summer and winter Olympic Games? Do some research – did your home country win any medals at the last Olympic Games (London 2012)? Where are the next summer Olympic Games (2016) being held? Where are the 2020 summer Olympic Games to be held? Do you think the UAE could host the first Olympic Games to be held in the Middle East? Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of hosting an event like this?