Ahmad Ibrahim Altayeb, director of sports and technical affairs with UAE’s National Olympic Committee, was among the delegates at the Arabian Sports and Sponsorship Forum hosted by Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina Circuit on Tuesday.
Dubai is currently readying itself to host Expo 2020, and Altayeb believes that process will provide the perfect foundation for the Games to come to the emirate in the future.
“It doesn’t get any bigger than the Olympics,” Altayeb told Sport360. “It’s really something special. We have no year in mind but if we were to win an Olympic bid, after 2020 I think we would be ready.
“We have the Expo 2020 and after that I think we will be ready to host any event because the infrastructure will be ready. We have all the elements to host whatever event we want. For us everything is possible.”
Dubai was expected to enter the bidding for the 2020 Olympics, eventually awarded to Tokyo, and 2024, but bids never materialised.
Solid debate on the subject of growth of National Sports Day, getting all Emirates involved #assf2016 pic.twitter.com/i7D0gd5k77
— ASSF (@arabianssf) January 19, 2016Instead the focus was shifted to their successful Expo bid and Altayeb believes that will open the door to more global showpieces down the road.
He said: “For us, we don’t have a particular date to bring the Olympics here but we might think about it. Our leaders like a challenge. Sheikh Mohammed always likes to get something no one else has done before.”
The UAE has competed in eight straight Olympic Games since Los Angeles 1984 but has only ever won one medal, although it was gold, with Sheikh Ahmad bin Hasher Al Maktoum firing his way to glory in double trap at Athens 2004. Altayeb feels the development of Emirati athletes should be the immediate focus.
“The Olympics and other things are a possibility, but we are lacking an Olympic centre and Olympic facilities to train our athletes and we have to think of the athletes first,” he said.
“After 2020 the focus will be on the sport. If you host and you don’t win anything it would be strange. You want to host and be successful. It’s a long-term plan, perhaps 10 or 20 years.”
The opening day of the forum brought together prominent industry leaders to share knowledge, practices and discuss ways to consolidate the UAE and wider GCC’s growing stature as a global sporting hub.
Mushtaq Al Waeli, the executive director of planning and development at the Qatar Football Association, said: “I always believe platforms like this are essential for leaders and those who work within the industry.”
Didier Brun, Deputy CEO Sport360, added: “It’s a good initiative and something that should be continued and perhaps broadened in terms of regional presence.
“There were some people from Qatar and a few other markets but I think making it more regional, bringing in more people from other Gulf countries, will improve it.”
