Legendary runner Kelly Holmes feels region is making progress in sport and can host Olympics

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  • Team effort: Daman's Andrew Phillips with Dame Kelly Homes.

    In a night that saw winners perform flips on stage, acrobats entertain the crowd and more than 40 awards given out, there was one special guest who truly stole the show at the Sports Industry Awards – double Olympic champion Dame Kelly Holmes.

    The retired middle-distance runner attended the gala event as an ambassador for Daman, who were up for eight awards, and helped present a number of trophies.

    Holmes, who won two gold medals in the 800m and 1500m at the Athens Olympics in 2004, has been active in the UAE sports scene through her work with Daman National Health Insurance Company, who sponsor numerous events like the Color Run through their Active Life programme.

    The Brit, who was heavily involved in the London Olympics three years ago, believes countries in the Gulf region have some work to do but can soon play host to an Olympic Games.

    “I really think in time to come someone here will definitely be able to host the Olympics,” Holmes told Sport360º. “It’s one of those developmental processes because of course you have to put everything else into place.

    “Be it women integration into sport in particular, the environment, the climate… so there are many things that have to be taken into consideration. But I have no doubt whatsoever that one day, and I hope it’s in my lifetime, that the UAE or Qatar or someone will hold an Olympic Games here. It would just be amazing.”

    It was the 44-year-old’s first appearance at the SPIA and she was impressed by what she witnessed at the JW Marriott Marquis last week.

    “I think in life you always have this hidden hero type thing where actually it’s the people behind doing all the work that don’t ever get the recognition,” said Holmes.

    “And actually what these awards do is recognise those people that are dedicated to getting the cause spoken about. Sport is a big industry and this is their chance to shine.

    “I’m here as an ambassador for Daman. Through my work with them, I realise how passionate people there are about making a difference and the fact that they’re getting recognised for the work that they do is really great.”

    Roger Duthie, the head of global sponsorship at Emirates Airline, has witnessed the growth of the SPIA from year to year. And he commended the event’s rise.

    “I think this is a wonderful event, it brings together all the sports industry in Dubai. It’s really the only opportunity we have where everyone from golf, tennis, cricket, to rugby to the agencies, comes under one roof together,” said Duthie.

    “First, it’s a great social night, it’s a wonderful networking night and I think Sport360º have done a fantastic job with this event, growing it from strength to strength.”

    European champion swimmer Velimir Stjepanovic, who was born and raised in the UAE, was also in attendance and presented a number of awards. The 21-year-old Serb feels the Emirates is slowly establishing itself as an important destination for world sport.

    “Dubai should be a really good hub for the top sports and it’s good to see that it’s starting to take effect and that people are starting to recognise this place as a great location where you can hold events, which before maybe it wasn’t,” said Stjepanovic.

    “There is room for growth for sure. I speak for swimming obviously, there are a lot of things that can be improved on. It’s slowly but surely taking effect.”

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