Category: Athletic

AL KHOBAR: The UAE defeated Yemen 3-0 in the fourth round of Group 8 of 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification and 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualification.

With this result, the UAE raised its tally to 12 points at the top of the group, while Yemen’s remained at 3 points.

Source: Emirates News Agency

DUBAI: The UAE government launched the Global Accelerators Ambassadors Programme, a-first-of-its-kind project exhibiting cooperation between the Government Accelerators and international organisations.

The first cohort started in collaboration with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), aiming to share the UAE government accelerators methodology and empower the international organisations taskforces with the knowledge, experience, and tools needed to accelerate the design and implementation of transformational projects.

Furthermore, the programme spreads the culture of acceleration by building the capabilities of a generation of accelerator ambassadors from employees in international organisations.

The programme is the second project launched by the Government Accelerators Centre at the Prime Minister’s Office in the Ministry of Cabinet Affairs in cooperation with international organisations. Earlier, the centre launched an exceptional partnership and a successful experience with the World H
ealth Organisation (WHO), empowering it with the accelerators’ work methodology to support the efforts of the WHO to achieve its “Triple Billion Targets”.

The programme was launched in a workshop held at the ICAO’s headquarters in the Canadian city of Montreal, in the presence of Juan Carlos Salazar, Secretary-General of the ICAO; Dr. Radhiya Al Hashimi, Executive Director of the Government Accelerators Centre; and Saeed Alsuwaidi, the UAE Permanent Representative to the ICAO, and a number of officials.

The Global Accelerators Ambassadors Programme seeks to enhance the UAE’s leading role in sharing the model and concepts of government accelerators and developing a platform for sharing knowledge and building global capabilities, through which the accelerator culture is spread internationally, building and strengthening partnerships with international organisations, and developing future cooperation frameworks.

Huda AlHashimi, Deputy Minister of Cabinet Affairs for Strategic Affairs, stated that the programm
e lays the foundations for a new phase of knowledge partnerships between the UAE government and international organisations. These partnerships focus on sharing experiences and the UAE’s successful accelerators model to support organisations and enable them to accelerate the achievement of their goals.

She added that this cooperation comes within the bilateral cooperation agreement signed by the UAE government and the ICAO in 2022.

Salazar expressed his thanks and appreciation to the UAE government for its keenness to support the partnership with the ICAO, which effectively contributes to the development of the global aviation sector and supports investment in future business models aiming to enhance the aviation industry’s readiness.

The ICAO’s Secretary General emphasised that the accelerators workshop is a model for best practices in future cooperation between Member States and the ICAO General Secretariat. It complements the ICAO’s ongoing transformational efforts and promotes efficiency and effectiven
ess.

Through the workshop, the ICAO is accelerating transformational projects related to people, processes and systems. They further support the organisation’s innovative endeavours to achieve its transformational goals by enhancing employees’ access to the latest methodologies, tools and standards, building the foundations for a lasting impact that goes in line with the organisation’s goal of delivering value to the global aviation sector.

The programme encompasses six courses divided into three main stages: design, planning, and implementation, over 100 days.

The Government Accelerators team held multiple workshops to enable the ICAO team with the accelerator methodology. During the workshops, 15 employees were trained and provided with the knowledge and skills needed to implement the 100-day work methodology of the government accelerators.

During the four-day workshops, participants discussed more than 135 innovative ideas, 30 initiatives, and six transformational projects, within three main challenges
that include re-structuring procedures, automation and data unification, talent development and building capabilities.

The workshops introduced the UAE’s experience in developing government accelerators, the first of its kind in the world, the concept of accelerators, the 100-day methodology, and several success stories that ministries and government entities in the UAE were able to achieve through the accelerators. The pivotal role of the accelerators in the strategic partnership agreements between the UAE and various countries in the fields of government modernisation and development was highlighted.

During the activities of the World Governments Summit 2022, Mohammad Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs, and Salvatore Sciacchitano, President of the ICAO, signed a memorandum of cooperation focusing on institutional development, knowledge and experiences exchange and providing support by sharing the UAE’s experience in civil aviation.

The partnership aims to share best practices and exchange k
nowledge and expertise in the field of international civil aviation, in line with the directions of the UAE and the ICAO and its strategic initiatives to enhance the performance of the global aviation sector. It focuses on innovation in civil aviation and e-security, and the spread of development models and exchange of experiences to serve the international aviation sector and enhance its readiness for the future.

Source: Emirates News Agency

DUBAI: Dubai Racing Club (DRC) announced that the 28th Dubai World Cup at Meydan Racecourse on Saturday will witness a spectacular never seen before the closing ceremony.

The latest in drone, laser, and lighting technology will be used to redefine the limits of visual spectacle in an attempt to break the Guinness World Record, said the DRC in a press statement.

As many as 4000 specialised drones will be used to perform a unique pyrotechnic load alongside LED lights, offering an impressive 33-minute flight time for dynamic 3D sculptures in the sky.

About 125 of the world’s elite horses from 14 countries will compete in the Dubai World Cup evening races, with a total prize money of $30.5 million.

Major General Dr. Mohammed Dr Mohammed Essa Al Adhab, Executive Director of Dubai Racing Club, said: ‘The Dubai World Cup is well-known for a spectacular closing show and we are working with our partners to make this one better than ever.”

‘I can say that those attending the 30th March race evening can expect to
see something they haven’t seen before!’

Source: Emirates News Agency

TOKYO: Giving a second life to abandoned railways as tourism resources has become a popular trend among Japanese local communities striving to bolster their economies.

With the central government’s support for cycle tourism, which is aimed at enthusiasts from at home and abroad, full-blown cycling trails have been built or are being planned across the country.

Nearly 10 of such roads involve discontinued railway routes at locations from Hokkaido to the north to Nagasaki and Oita to the south in the main island of Kyushu.

They once were among the number of tracks abolished over the decades as regional railways diminished their role as a means of mass transportation amid waves of motorisation, depopulation and a shift in industry focus more towards high-speed trains directly linking large cities.

Aside from these factors that have resulted in a significant drop in passenger numbers for local train services, natural disasters have forced some regional rails to be deserted without being restored due mainly to
cost problems.

Currently in Japan, there are about a dozen railway lines where services are suspended, partially or entirely, after they were struck by natural disasters including heavy rains, typhoons and earthquakes.

The future looks uncertain for some of those mostly deficit-ridden lines, and the railway operators and local governments concerned could seriously consider not only their fate but benefits from possible use of their facilities after discontinuation.

Offering a precedent for the conversion of an ill-fated railroad, one of the tourism promotion projects is underway in Nagasaki Prefecture aiming to establish a cycling road that can gain international recognition.

A 35-kilometer section of what once was a 78.5-km Shimabara Railway line is being rebuilt for a cycling route 16 years after the last train passed there to close its 80-year history.

A series of eruptions of a nearby volcano halted services in that section several times in the 1990s, although the passenger factor was a direct cause
for it to be cut indefinitely in 2008.

The city of Minamishimabara, which has jurisdiction for the areas encompassing the section in question, decided by 2019 to convert most of it into a path for cyclists and pedestrians.

The cycling road was partially opened in 2022 and is expected to be fully opened during the 2024 fiscal year starting in April, although snowballing construction costs are giving city authorities a major headache.

The city is home to ruins of Hara Castle, a World Heritage site and the scene of the Shimabara Rebellion, a fierce battle between peasants, most of whom were Christians, and the Tokugawa shogunate that took place nearly 400 years ago. There are also hot springs along the way.

“We want to attract people who enjoy cycling and stay in hot spring facilities,” Masahiro Yoshihara, a 42-year-old city employee, said. “Running on this road makes you feel a breezy sense of delight.”

Yoshioka served as a guide for a bicycle tour in a coastal section of the trail in early December, leadi
ng about 20 bicycle riders who also enjoyed drops-in at an observation platform and a souvenir shop, among other attractions.

Such a form of cycle tourism is drawing many enthusiasts due to a growing health awareness, not to mention the economic and environmentally friendly benefits.

The gentle gradients of roads originally laid out for trains make ideal cycling paths, with the advantage of utilising station huts and other existing facilities for rest stops and other purposes.

According to the central government’s White Paper on transportation policy, there were approximately 560 km of railroad lines in Japan that were discontinued between April 2010 and April 2023.

The government scheme for bicycle utilisation was approved by the Cabinet in June 2018, helping to encourage cycle tourism.

Even before the government endorsed its backing, a 180-km cycling course opened in Ibaraki Prefecture in 2016, featuring the abandoned tracks of the former Tsukuba Railway and a public road that runs along the Kasumigaur
a lakeshore.

The Tsukuba-Kasumigaura Ring Ring Road, located about one-hour drive from central Tokyo, is attracting many cyclists, and they generally appreciate its easy-to-access location and the retro-tinged atmosphere surrounding old-fashioned station buildings used as rest stops.

The Kubiki Cycling Road in the Joetsu area, Niigata Prefecture, stretches a little more than 30 km along the Sea of Japan coast. It was transformed from the railway tracks used for a Hokuriku Line section that was closed for rerouting.

The road has gained popularity among young enthusiasts for its public relations character, Kubiki Rin, which was created by students at a local vocational school and plays a major promotional role largely through social media.

Of these, the Tsukuba-Kasumigaura Ring Ring Road has been designated as one of the handful of the “National Cycle Routes” under the government-backed campaigns for creating cycling roads capable of meeting international standards and thus attracting cycling enthusiasts on
varied levels from in and outside Japan.

Other designees include the Shimanami Kaido Cycling Road, a 70-km toll road running along the expressway linking Hiroshima and Ehime prefectures across the Seto Inland Sea in western Japan, and the 403-km Tokapchi 400 route in Hokkaido that is laid amidst vast plains.

A 2021 survey by Roots Sports Japan, a Tokyo-based company promoting cycling and running sports, showed there were 13.82 million cycle tourism users in Japan during 2020 – 2021, with expectations high that there will be an influx of tourists from Europe where cycling is particularly popular.

“Areas around train stations originally had many shops, and converting these (abandoned tracks) into cycling routes is an effective means of promoting tourism,” said Masahito Ono, 59, a senior official in the office for promoting the use of bicycles at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.

Ono, who also heads the Sanso Network, an organisation that encourages leisure cycling, emphasised the
importance of creating environments that are easy for tourists to visit, featuring information signboards and other amenities.

Source: Emirates News Agency

BINH THUAN: Vietnam FesTrival Binh Thuan 2024, a triathlon competition, was held in the central province of Binh Thuan on Sunday, drawing nearly 500 athletes from 19 countries.

The event was jointly organised by the provincial Department of Culture and Sports, the Stop And Sports JSC and the Vietnam Triathlon Club.

Athletes competed in two categories with the first one featuring a 1.9km swim, a 90km cycling race and a 21.1km run and the second a 950m swim, a 45km cycling race and a 10.55km run.

Following the success of the inaugural season, the tournament received extensive positive feedback from athletes and experts. This year, the organisers aim to deliver another professional tournament while also providing a festival-like atmosphere for athletes to meet, interact, and share their passion for the sport.

The tournament aims to showcase the scenic beauty of Binh Thuan to both local and international audiences, thereby supporting the province’s goal of becoming a national marine sports centre.

Source: E
mirates News Agency

DUBAI: Gearing up to deliver memorable performances, the UAE national teams are intensifying their preparations ahead of the inaugural edition of the Gulf Youth Games.

Hosted by the UAE, the Gulf Youth Games, a multi-sport event featuring 3,500 male and female athletes from across the GCC, will take place under the theme ‘Our Gulf is One… Our Youth is Promising’.

Mohammed Al-Shibli, technical director of the boxing team, emphasised the significant interest the UAE Boxing Federation has in the Gulf Youth Games, as it represents a great opportunity to discover new talent.

Shibli stated that preparations for the sports extravaganza started early, with players currently undergoing intermittent training due to their academic commitments.

‘Training intensity will increase during the spring break, with the team gathering for an internal camp to focus more on finalising the team roster.’

He added that a championship for the same age group participating in the Gulf Youth Games will be held in Fujairah on 29th M
arch of this month, which will be a crucial stage for the UAE Boxing Federation and the coaching staff to select the best elements to represent the country in the event.

Shibli indicated that the federation has decided to host an external training camp to prepare the final list of players who will be selected.

The camp will serve as the final stage of preparation. The federation has contacted three countries – Thailand, the Philippines, and Uzbekistan – to participate in a strong external preparation camp to equip the players in the best possible way and ensure they are ready before entering the competitions.

The technical director of the UAE boxing team explained that the outlines of the final list have been largely determined. He stated that the final list will include 13 players, while currently, 8 or 9 players have been tentatively settled upon. However, these names are subject to change based on each player’s readiness until the start of the tournament.

Sultan Ali Al Tahir, the head of the Chess Tech
nical Committee at the Gulf Youth Games, revealed details of the participation in the tournament, confirming that four Gulf countries will be in the fray, including Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and the UAE. The competitions will take place at the Sharjah Cultural and Chess Club.

Tahir explained that the competitions will be held in categories under 14 and 18 years old for males and females. There will be a rapid chess championship, blitz, along with a team championship for both rapid and blitz, for both males and females.

Each team are allowed to participate with three players at the team level, which means each team will compete with 12 players, bringing the total to 48 players. Players from the participating teams are allowed to participate in individual championships, and Tahir pointed out that an increase in the number of participating countries remains possible until the deadline.

He noted that a chief arbiter from the UAE has been selected, named Faisal Al-Hammadi. Additionally, each delegation will inclu
de an accompanying arbiter. The technical regulations prepared by the UAE Chess Federation’s technical management will be presented to the tournament’s technical committee for approval or modification.

‘Everyone is ready to make the first edition of this major event a major success on UAE soil. We have the experience, administrative staff, and organisational capabilities that will lead the event to a successful conclusion. We have previously hosted many international, regional, Arab, and Gulf championships,’ he added.

On the other hand, the UAE Badminton Federation approved the national team preparation programme, after determining the final list, which includes 24 male and female players.

The badminton team’s preparations began with a first internal camp held over two days at the Extra Academy in Sharjah, while the second will be held on March 30 and 31 under the supervision of the national team’s coach, Mahmoud Tayfour.

The badminton team will conclude its preparations for the Gulf Youth Games with anot
her camp to be held under the supervision of the National Olympic Committee from April 13 to 18, and training will be held in two periods, morning and evening.

Noura Al Jasmi, President of the UAE Badminton Federation, confirmed that the national team includes the best players who were selected from among 140 male and female players following a qualifying tournament held for the Gulf Youth Games, which the federation organised at the Extra Sports Academy at the beginning of this month in cooperation with the General Sports Authority.

Jasmi explained that the preparation program was set in consultation between the technical and administrative bodies of the federation to prepare the team members in the best possible way for the Gulf Youth Games. She stressed that the federation’s Board of Directors, in cooperation with the National Olympic Committee, will provide all the requirements that the national team needs, to achieve the aspirations of UAE sports.

Jasmi stated that the badminton team will be fully pre
pared for the tournament, especially since the badminton season in the UAE started last January, as the last three months witnessed the organisation of many tournaments and various events for juniors and youth, which helped them improve their skills and enhance the passion in them to show competitive levels. She wished good luck to the team for the upcoming Gulf Youth Games.

Source: Emirates News Agency