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28 March 2024

Indian sport to come under spotlight at Dubai Summit

Piyush Chawla (left) is congratulated by his ecstatic team mate Robin Uthappa after hitting the winning runs for Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL 7 final against Kings XI Punjab at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Sunday June 1, 2014. (TWITTER)

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By Staff

The future of Indian sport will take centre stage at a major summit to be held in Dubai on November 26 and 27.

Senior figures from Indian cricket and representatives from India’s new football league will fly in for Host Cities 2014, being held at the end of November, to discuss the development of their sports with experts from around the world.

The Host Cities Summit, hosted by Emirates, has also confirmed they will be joined by the true-life subjects of Disney’s 'Million Dollar Arm' film – the true story of how two Indian youths who were recruited by an American sports agent from a first time pitching contest.

Sundar Raman, IPL Governing Council, and Kushal Das, General Secretary, All India Football Federation will be in attendance at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Dubai, the venue for Host Cities 2014.

From the UAE, Mohammad Al Kaabi, the UAE’s National Olympic Committee board member will be in attendance as well as Salah Al Talhak, the Senior Vice President – Corporate Communications & Tournament Director, Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.

The Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships is now over 20 years old and one of the key events on the ATP Tour. 

Host Cities is a two-day event where leading figures in sport and business come together to discuss the benefits of being a host city.

The summit enables rights holders, leading sports bodies and past, present and future host cities to interact and discuss practical advice in understanding the bidding process and learn about what rights holders are looking for when receiving bids.

Looking beyond an event is also high on the agenda as potential host cities establish what it really takes to stage a large-scale event that leaves a positive social and economic legacy.

As well as the concentration on India’s growing sporting landscape speakers from all the over the world will be in attendance to offer advice, tips and direction to the specific needs of hopeful host cities.

Speakers such as Jackie Brock-Doyle OBE, Chief Executive Officer - The Good Relations Group; Paul Bush OBE, COO - Event Scotland; Simon Clegg CBE, COO - 1st European Games Baku; Peter Griffiths, Director of Operations - IMG; Mackey Dudhia, GM - Dubai Sports City; Nitin Kukreja, President - Sports, Star India; Harald Mayne Nicholls - Former President of the ANFP and FIFA Technical Inspector; Dr Danny Jordaan - President of the South African Football Association; Tim Roberts, Operations Director - Glastonbury Festival UK; Gilbert Rozon, CEO and Founder of Just For Laughs Festival; Tariq Al Abdulla - Head of Technical Affairs, Qatar Olympic Committee and Philippe Blanchard - Advisor, Information and Knowledge, Dubai Expo 2020 will all be among the guest speakers.

Over the two-day event, Host Cities will incorporate multiple sessions including panel discussions, case studies and workshops dedicated to bidding, hosting, legacy, funding and more. Networking opportunities will be fostered in an intimate business atmosphere.