The UAE Olympic House in Paris brought together a distinguished panel of speakers to discuss the role of sports in public diplomacy.
The high-level roundtable discussion titled “Beyond the Games: Olympics and Public Diplomacy in Shaping National Identity”, was hosted in partnership with the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The event, led by Noura Al Kaabi, Minister of State, emphasised how sports can build cohesive communities and create lasting legacies both internationally and nationally.
Sheikh Rashed bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, Vice President of the National Olympic Committee, opened the session by highlighting the UAE's largest-ever participation in the Olympic Games.
He stressed the country's dedication to preserving Emirati sporting values while learning from global best practices.
Gabriele Ramos, Assistant Director-General for Social and Human Sciences at UNESCO, praised the UAE’s Centennial 2071 initiative for fostering an inclusive society through sports.
The session focused on how sports diplomacy can inspire future generations, strengthen social cohesion, drive social impact, and enhance international connections.
The panel also included Ghanim Mubarak Al Hajeri, Director-General of the UAE General Authority of Sports; Gönül Serbest, Commissioner for Victoria (Australia) to Europe, the Middle East, Türkiye and Africa; and Samuel Ducroquet, Ambassador for Sport at the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs.
The roundtable concluded with a call for nations to use sports as a tool for international relations, inspiration, and creating enduring legacies. The UAE remains committed to advancing these ideals through ongoing global engagement and collaboration.
"For us, the Olympics is not only about competing in sport but also about sharing our culture and values with the world, and leaving a legacy that will be inherited by future generations," said Noura Al Kaabi.
UAE Olympic House hosts high-level roundtable to discuss future of sport, public diplomacy#WamNews https://t.co/FPMBd5Okt5 pic.twitter.com/ljx78L7fh9
— WAM English (@WAMNEWS_ENG) August 2, 2024
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