UAE rallying legend Mohammed Ben Sulayem said today that sport can play an important role in helping to protect and preserve the national identity of Emiratis.
Speaking on the second day of the ‘United Arab Emirates National Identity Conference’ in Abu Dhabi, the 14 times Middle East rally champion said success in sport builds national pride, and he called for a major team effort to create more UAE champions and involve more young Emiratis in the country’s sports event infrastructure.
Sulayem, President of the Automobile and Touring Club for the UAE, told the conference: “When a UAE driver wins a rally; when our football team wins the Gulf Cup; when an Emirati wins a gold medal for shooting at the Olympics; we inspire our young.
“We make them proud to be Emiratis, proud of their national identity, eager to embrace it, to aim for success in sport themselves and to become tomorrow’s champions.
“When Ismael Matar scored the goal to give the UAE the Gulf Cup for the first time last year, there was an outpouring of joy and pride throughout the Emirates.
“I believe sport can play an important part in making sure that our national identity is carried forward by future generations of young Emiratis.”
During today’s opening session of the conference at the Emirates Palace, Sulayem shared the floor with UAE Football Association chairman H.E. Mohammed Khalfan Al Rumaithi, Ibrahim Abdulmalik, Secretary General of the General Authority of Youth and Sport, and UAE sportswoman Shamma Al Muhairi
“We can never do too much to encourage the youth of the UAE in sport, said Sulayem.
“Sport has helped put the UAE on the map. Sport is big business. It has as a huge global audience, and there’s no better example of this than Formula 1.
“When Abu Dhabi stages its F1 Grand Prix next year this is a fantastic sporting occasion for the whole of the UAE. We have a great opportunity to show the rest of the world what the UAE is all about, an opportunity to make this an event like no other F1 race.
“I’m on the advisory board for the event, and I’d like to see the Ministry of Culture work with us to build a special programme around the race to promote our national identity and culture, and to involve young Emiratis in the planning, preparation and execution of the Abu Dhabi F1 Grand Prix.
