Dubai Sports City could host Olympics

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Men's 1,500 metre gold medalist Rashid Ramzi won Bahrain's first ever Olympic Gold Medal at the Beijing Olympic Games last month. (Getty Images)

Dubai Sports City could play host to a future Olympic Games, according to DSC's general manager for sports business Macky Dudhia.

"If the Government of Dubai decides to bid for the Olympics, we would fully support that bid in any way we can, including being a host venue for some of the events and a training base for athletes," he said.

"Although any potential Dubai Olympics is many years away, the fact is that if a Dubai bid is to be successful, much work will need to be done in the intervening years demonstrating Dubai's credentials to host different sporting events. With Dubai Sports City due for completion in 2010, we will be well placed to assist with that task," said Dudhia, adding that the next Olympic Games that Dubai could bid for would be in 2020.

He explained that DSC has many facilities which would be suitable for Olympic events, such as a 60,000 capacity multi-purpose outdoor stadium, a 10,000 seat multi-purpose indoor arena, a 5000 seat field hockey stadium and a 25,000 capacity cricket stadium.

"An Olympic Games in Dubai would need certain other facilities to be built to cater for the full range of events. In addition to the sporting facilities, support infrastructure such as the athlete's village, press specific facilities and public transport will all need to be put in place," added Dudhia.

He was keen to clarify, however, that the success of DSC was not dependent on an event on the scale of Olympics being held there.

A key focus of DSC is on its Academy Campus, which has been designed to play a major role in preparing competitors for future Olympics.

DSC president Khalid Al Zarooni said: "We are focused on providing facilities for the next generation of athletes who could go on to represent their country at an international level."

"When the Academies open, talented athletes will be able to access the finest facilities and some of the most experienced coaching staff and training methods. They will also have the opportunity to interact with sports people from around the world, ensuring they are exposed to different sporting styles and cultures."

"It will be a unique offering in the world of sport, and will hopefully contribute to developing a broader culture of sporting achievement in this region," added Al Zarooni.

Academies under construction at Dubai Sports City include the ICC Global Cricket Academy, Football (home of the Manchester United Soccer Schools, Dubai), Rugby, Swimming and the FIH WorldHockey Academy, the Butch Harmon School of Golf and David Lloyd Tennis Academy.


You have to be in it to win it
The disappointment of the performance of Middle Eastern countries in the Beijing Olympic Games has raised the issue of how governments across the region can work with the sports industry to better organise the sector and produce elite athletes.

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