Under the directives of Ahmed bin Mohammed
The logo of the 1st Youth GCC Games UAE 2024 unveiled
The slogan expresses the values of respect, equality and fair play
"Our Gulf is one .. Our youth is promising". As the title of the first Gulf Youth Games
Dubai Opera will host the opening ceremony on April 23
36 individual and team sports will shape the features of the Gulf sports event
Distribution of games across the various emirates of the country
Approval of the official website of the event www.uae2024.ae
Revealing the mascot of the first edition of the Gulf Youth Games
Rashid bin Humaid: We are working to provide a distinct organizational model and confirm the success of events hosted in the country that always writes a success story called "UAE".
Al Mutawa: The opening ceremony of the event will be predominantly technical using the latest means and technological methods
Under the directives of H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, President of the National Olympic Committee and President of the First Gulf Youth Games, the Higher Committee for the event chaired by Sheikh Rashid bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, Vice President of the National Olympic Committee, approved the event’s slogan and final number of sports totaling 36 individual and team sports through 41 sporting competitions this morning in Dubai. This comes as the countdown begins for the event hosted by the United Arab Emirates during the period from April 16 to May 2, with the participation of 3,500 male and female athletes under the slogan "Our Gulf is one .. Our youth is promising.” The Opera House in Dubai will host the opening ceremony on April 23 with a range of artistic and heritage performances that will harness technological methods and artificial intelligence techniques in most segments of the ceremony.
The meeting witnessed following up on the work progress of the main and working committees and reviewing the latest developments related to the event. Many aspects of the event were approved in the presence of a large number of media outlets, as the distribution of sports competitions across the various emirates of the country was revealed. Abu Dhabi will host the football (youth - girls), judo, jiu-jitsu, boxing, golf, swimming, ice hockey, sailing, and cycling track competitions, while Dubai will host competitions for people of determination athletics, billiards and snooker, bowling, volleyball, marine sports, air sports, athletics, badminton, badminton, tennis, mountain biking, table tennis, motocross, esports racing, and esports.
The Emirate of Sharjah will host basketball (3x3), handball, rowing, chess, archery, equestrian (show jumping and dressage), cycling (track race), and shooting competitions, while Taekwondo, fencing, and karate competitions will be held in the Emirate of Fujairah. Ajman will host modern pentathlon and triathlon competitions, while Umm Al Quwain and Ras Al Khaimah will host fitness and karting competitions respectively.
The meeting also witnessed the approval of the event’s website www.uae2024.ae and its logo, which artistically embodies the word “Emirates”, and symbolizes ambition and progress with its ascending Arabic lines. The logo reflects the spirit of vitality and unity, with a focus on cultural harmony between the Council states, and an emphasis on the UAE’s role as a host country with its simple and elegant style.
The logo expresses the values of respect, equality, and fair play, celebrating the growth and sporting achievements sought by the youth of the Gulf. While its intertwined lines celebrate friendship and solidarity, its colors refer to the colors of the UAE flag, sending a welcoming message that enhances unity between the peoples of the Cooperation Council states.
The meeting reviewed design samples for the sportswear of the UAE sports delegation participating in the event and the system of codes for the sports included in the event. The mascot was also approved, which embodies a falcon in a space suit symbolizing lofty aspirations and limitless ambition, reflecting the spirit of innovation and courage that characterizes youth, inspired by the UAE's space achievements. This falcon that strives to soar high represents the new generation with boundless ambitions and serves as a symbol to motivate them to pursue great dreams and embark on new horizons, whether on the sports field or in the sky of science and discovery, affirming that nothing is impossible in the face of will and determination.
The falcon's head in the mascot symbolizes athletic traits such as agility, keen vision and speed, which inspires athletes, while the blue space suit expresses the UAE's ambition to explore space and its aspirations for the future and achieving great dreams. The cartoon style also attracts a wide audience of all ages, creating a cheerful and attractive atmosphere, enhancing the positive spirit and communication between generations, making the mascot a beloved and distinctive symbol of the event.
Sheikh Rashid bin Humaid Al Nuaimi opened the meeting by conveying the greetings of H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, President of the National Olympic Committee and President of the First Gulf Youth Games, stressing the importance of redoubling efforts and uniting all teams to present a distinguished and unique model of organizational work regarding hosting sports events; and affirming the country's leadership in the success of events hosted on its soil, which always writes a success story called "UAE".
Sheikh Rashid bin Humaid Al Nuaimi pointed out that the event is a unique opportunity as it is being held for the first time for a specific age group and its ideal timing to prepare for upcoming major engagements. It is relied upon by all the participating fraternal Gulf countries in preparing their athletes to represent them in the forums scheduled in the next few years, including the 4th Asian Youth Games in Tashkent 2025, and the 4th Summer Youth Olympic Games in Dakar 2026; This enhances the strength of the first Gulf Youth Games and gives it an exceptional character in terms of the level of competitions in all sports, numbers and achieved results.
For his part, H.E. Fares Al Mutawa, Secretary General of the National Olympic Committee, Vice Chairman of the Higher Committee, Chairman of the Organizing Committee, praised the level of coordination between all the main and working committees through regular daily meetings to monitor developments and develop visions and proposals to deal with different situations during the event. He stressed focusing on raising the readiness of teams from receiving participating delegations, to launching competitions in all emirates of the country, to the final stages of the event.
Al Mutawa revealed that the opening ceremony of the First Gulf Youth Games will be predominantly technical using the latest means and technological methods to convey a number of concepts and sporting values associated with fair competition, cooperation, friendship and mutual respect. He pointed out that the organizing committee for the event has received a number of proposed programs after being submitted by the committee responsible for the opening ceremony, and the final approval for this aspect will be made in the coming days.
The meeting was attended by H.E. Fares Al Mutawa, Secretary General of the National Olympic Committee, Vice Chairman of the Higher Committee, Chairman of the Organizing Committee, H.E. Ghannam Al Hajri, Director General of the General Authority for Sports, H.E. Essa Hilal, Chairman of the Sharjah Sports Council, H.E. Saeed Harib, Secretary General of Dubai Sports Council, and NOC Board Members Major General Dr. Mohammed Al Murr, representative of Dubai Police General Command, H.E. Nasser Al Tamimi, H.E. Nora Al Jasmi, H.E. Qais Al Dhaleei, H.E. Suhail Al Arifi, representative of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, Dr. Khalil Al Matrooshi, representative of the Ministry of Health and Prevention, and H.E. Mashaal Nasser Al Khalifa, representative of the General Secretariat of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf.