abu dhabi
Sport Management has provided me with wonderful opportunities for self development, life goals for travel and enabled me to become a better human being by gaining exposure to the many different cultures and environments around the world.
As part of the bid process for IMMAF events, the bidding committee is responsible for reviewing, evaluating and accepting/declining countries’ application for holding international amateur MMA events.
The committee is responsible for reviewing the commercial proposal and further legal agreements / contracts.
Once the bid has been approved, the communication begins between the IMMAF events department and the host nation.
Last week I was on location in the dynamic city of Abu Dhabi, UEA, preparing for the IMMAF 2021 World Championships with the local organising committee and other key stakeholders.
Some of the areas covered at the meeting were:
• Budget review and financial planning.
• An inspection of the Sports Venue and the Accommodation.
• Medical & Anti-Doping services and facilities (including medical emergency protocol, routes and travel times).
• Ticketing, audience facilities (including seating).
• Transport arrangements.
• Local staffing, volunteers and training.
• Security.
• Local government sanctioning
• Host Nation commissioning and legacy.
Whilst in Abu Dhabi I managed to review possible hotels to be used for competing teams and also had the opportunity to visit Yas Island before I departed. For those that don’t know, Yas Island has been popularised recently. It is now in the public conscience and is better known as Fight Island, due to the UFC events during the COVID-19 pandemic.
There’s something magical happening in this part of the world as it seeks to become a global powerhouse similar to the London’s, New York’s and Singapore’s of the world. Abu Dhabi is 50 years old this year and is celebrating in style with a city wide rebrand. It does take time to actually comprehend how what I was seeing around me was bare desert land 50 years ago and now is a vibrant hub for sport, tourism and business.
I look forward to helping develop this region through the power of sport of the next few years.
