Dubai is certainly no stranger to star-studded events or high-level meetings, but this week’s inaugural World Sports Summit in the emirate brought an array of big-name talent to the UAE at a time when it is taking a leading role in the development of global sport, along with other countries in the region.
From the 2022 World Cup in Doha and the continuing regional success of Formula One racing to the rise of UFC, Bahrain leading the Gulf rankings in medals from the Paris Olympics and the excitement of foreign stars coming to play in the Saudi Pro League, Gulf countries are shaping the conversation about an economic, media and cultural juggernaut that will only grow in the years to come.
This makes the contributions of figures such as Fifa president Gianni Infantino, tennis stars Novak Djokovic and Ons Jabeur and the Brazilian football legend Ronaldo Nazario in Dubai this week particularly timely. Such athletes and administrators are familiar with global fame and the pressure that elite-level sports can bring. Tunisia’s Jabeur, who has previously spoken of the challenges inherent in balancing a tennis career with starting a family, took part in an aptly named panel discussion on Navigating Hype, Heartbreak and History.
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