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Ahmed Al Maktoum inaugurates the 5th Dubai International Sports Conference

H.H Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Board of Directors of UAE Airlines Company, Chairman of Emirates Civil Aviation Authority, inaugurated the 5th Dubai International Sports Conference at The Address Hotel on Tuesday morning which was held under the title "Football Companies ... Current Situation & Promising Future".

 A number of senior continental and global sports officials and dignitaries are giving lectures in this event which will be concluded on Wednesday December, 29th after issuing the recommendations.

 Mohammed Bin Hammam Al Abdullah AFC Chairman, Dr. Tariq Bin Humaid Al Tayer, Chairman of UFL Board of Directors, Dr Mattar Rashid Al Darmaki Deputy Chairman of UFL Board of Directors, Mattar Al Tayer, Vice-President of Dubai Sports Council and a number of sports characters were present at the opening ceremony. 

Dr. Tariq Bin Humaid Al Tayer, Chairman of UFL Board of Directors will give a lecture in the concluding day of the conference, Wednesday December 29 at 9am entitled "visions of professionalism", along with Muhammed Alnowaisr Executive Director of the Professionals Authority in Saudi Arabia, Dr.Hafiz Al Modlag Member of the Executive Office of the Saudi FA and Dr. Ahmed Saad Al Sharif General Secretary of the Dubai Sports Council.

The conference has started on Tuesday morning with a lecture delivered by Mohammed bin Hammam the AFC Chairman about the Asian Vision scheme for developing football in Asia to the highest levels. He said "this project is based on 11 elements to achieve the development, namely: management, marketing, youth, coaches, referees, medicine, clubs, competitions, players, media and fans".

Bin Hammam said that the project was first implemented in China, Thailand and Iran, and achieved great success. He added," Professionalism of football reflects our standard to the outside world. We have currently 140 professional clubs in 10 countries applying full professional system according to the terms of the AFC". He assured that they have achieved great success in marketing and sponsorship for the coming years. The income of the AFC off marketing during the period between 1992 and 2008 was $ 150 million, and it has risen to one billion dollars during the period from 2013 to 2020. Bin Hammam concluded his lecture saying," The future is for Asia".

Fabio Capello, England National Team Coach, Sandro Rosell, President of FC Barcelona Club and Umberto Jadini Executive Director of AC Milan also gave lectures in the first day with the title " Players of Clubs & National Teams ... International Evaluation & Players' Insurance."

Speaking in the third lecture, entitled "The future of players' agents", were: Mario Kalaffui member of dispute resolution in FIFA, Giovanni Prachini Vice-President of the European Association for the players' agents and Pietro Lo Monaco, Executive Director of the Italian club Catania.

The last lecture of the first day was about the Arbitration Sports Court in the GCC, and was delivered by: Geraer Habibian legal adviser to the UFL Dr. Majid Karoob Chairman of the Legal Committee in the Saudi Arabia FA and Mario Kalaffui.