December 16, Dubai – Being brave, be aware of your own bias and changing the game together. These key messages were not only the take-aways of the seminar about sport and physical activity for women and girls, but for the whole Netherlands Sports Week. Sport connects with the Sustainable Development Goals and is a bigger economical factor than most people think. This week has proven the Dutch sport sector can be the (trade) partner for inclusive, sustainable and innovative sport experiences.
yesterday’s seminar “The importance of Sport and Physical Activity in the Lives of Women and Girls”, was organized together with the Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Sport Association, and featured as speakers: Ms. Mariam Rashed Al Mansoori, Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Sport Association, Ms. Amna Obaid al Mehiri, UAE basketball player, Ms. Abeer al Khaja, Dubai Sports Council, Ms. Laura van Leeuwen, Ajax/Sharjah FC, and Ms. Jacqueline Kronenburg, Knowledge Centre for Sport & Physical Activity Netherlands.
Coming to the Expo 2020 Dubai and organizing this theme week has resulted in new connections, new insights and new business opportunities.
For instance, the innovations about sustainability – ranging from air cleaners in sport facilities to led lights and natural grass without pesticides – presented this week connect very well with the ambitions of sport organizations in the UAE. Fruitful new business contacts have been realized. Also on a higher level, the triple helix of government, knowledge and business has proven to be an interesting combination for the Dubai Sports Council and the Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Sport Association, that are interested to work together with Dutch organizations on the longer term.
The Netherlands Sports Week has been organized by Orange Sports Forum in collaboration with Sportinnovator and the Netherlands’ Knowledge Centre for Sport & Physical Activity, took part from 13th to 15th December at the Netherlands Pavilion.
The Netherlands’ delegation consists of more than 25 leading companies and government organizations related to sports that includes AFC Ajax, Wageningen University & Research, Philips, and many more. Thursday, they will visit ‘Invest in Sharjah’ and Sharjah FC, to conclude the NL Sports Week.
The three-day program of the NL Sports Week at the pavilion has included business meetings, matchmaking, seminars, demonstrations/ clinics, workshops and company visits. The Netherlands Pavilion also featured several Dutch products and sustainable, circular innovations.
For those who could not make it to the physical events, the seminars can be seen as replays on the pavilion’s virtual platform, Dutch Dubai.
The Netherlands Pavilion – a platform for connection
H.E. Carel Richter, Commissioner General for the pavilion says: “The Netherlands is a multifaceted country in terms of sports. It is always very impressive to see what our athletes are able to achieve. Like other nations, even in the UAE, there is a lot of priority given to lifestyle, sports, exercising and maintaining healthy balance.”
Picture:
Seven powerful women in sports have talked about the importance of sport and physical activity in the lives of women and sports. Left to right: Amna Obaid al Mehiri (elite basketball player UAE) Abeer al Khaja (Dubai Sports Council), Mariam Rashed Al Mansoori (Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Sport Association, Abu Dhabi), Jacqueline Kronenburg (Knowledge Centre for Sport & Physical Activity Netherlands), Laura van Leeuwen (Ajax/Sharjah FC), Joyce Bijl (moderator). Not in the picture: Keri McDonald (TAFISA)
About the Netherlands Pavilion
The Netherlands Pavilion, located at the Sustainability District at Expo 2020 Dubai, is open to visitors starting from 1st October 2021 until 31st March 2022. The pavilion has a giant green food cone known as the ‘Biotope’ as the centre of attraction. The 18m vertical farm is covered with 9300 edible plants and irrigated with the harvested water from the air (approx. 1200 litres daily) using innovative Dutch technologies. With these high-tech advancements and more in offering, the pavilion aims to be a true platform for sustainability and circularity initiatives thereby, enabling visitors to experience the Netherlands’ expertise in uniting water, energy and food. Dutch businesses, knowledge institutions and civil society organisations have specific knowledge and proficiency in these fields and can therefore, play a key role in finding solutions that contribute to a more sustainable planet. Possessing a naturally controlled climate, the pavilion’s structure is constructed using locally sourced materials that will be recycled after Expo period, minimizing its ecological footprint.
For more information, visit: www.dutchdubai.com.
About Orange Sports Forum
OSF is a platform for the international promotion of companies, organizations and institutions that have a connection with Dutch sport. It involves ‘hardware’ (infrastructure, accommodation, financing and advice) and ‘software’ (training, coaching, nutrition, education, sports marketing). One of OSF’s most important roles is to identify opportunities in and for other countries and to provide a platform that allows Dutch companies, organizations and institutes to come into contact with parties from foreign countries. OSF’s network currently consists of more than 300 companies and institutions. In addition, OSF works closely with the Dutch government and foreign missions (embassies and consulates).
About Knowledge Centre for Sport & Physical Activity NL
Making sport and physical activity more powerful through knowledge. For more details visit: www.kenniscentrumsportenbewegen.nl/en
About Sportinnovator
Sportinnovator – the leading innovation network for sports & exercise in the Netherlands. For more details visit: www.sportinnovator.nl