The best young athletes from around the world will descend on the UAE in under 100 days for the inaugural World School Games.
The event, which will take place between 8-10 February, will see 24 of the world's most athletic primary schools battle it out in a three-day multi-sport event to see who will be crowned World Champions.
Each school’s squad will consist of 16-24 students, with the athletes competing in swimming, athletics and football in a bid to accrue the most points and take the overall title. The Competition will be staged at two of Dubai's premier sports venues – GEMS Dubai American Academy and Dubai Sports City.
Following the launch event in Dubai last week, World School Games spokesperson, James Hair, told GYS why the event had been created, and why the organisers had chosen Dubai as the host city.
“Sport is a universal language, and it has the power to unite people like nothing else on this planet” said Hair.
“We wanted to create a truly international event that brings people together from all over the world, breaks down social and cultural barriers, and celebrates the talents and diversity of children from different countries, backgrounds and education systems.”
“Dubai is a fabulous place, and sport is ingrained in the city’s DNA. The facilities are incredible, the climate is perfect, and away from the sports field, the hotels, tourist attractions and amenities are simply unparalleled."
Hair also explained how, despite 2018 being The World School Games’ debut year, the event had instantaneously captured the imaginations of schools from far and wide.
“The response has been overwhelming; within 24-hours of launching we had schools from four continents signed up. The number of participating schools from each country is limited, ensuring The Games is a truly international spectacle, which should make for a fantastic three days of sport.”
Applications for The World Primary School Games will open for UAE schools on Friday 10th November. Schools interested in registering should email register@theworldschoolgames.com