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Dubai Attracts Sports Giants |
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1/9/2007 8:59:05 AM |
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Benefica (Portugal) will lock horns with Lazio (Italy) in the finals of the Mohammed bin Rashid International Football Championship in Dubai on Jan. 10 as one of the biggest football competitions in the United Arab Emirates ushers in the new year with gusto.
Many look to Dubai as a dream destination for the holidays. The city, which is constantly growing both in terms of infrastructure and in terms of the skyline, is constantly searching for new avenues to promote its brand in the international market.
The city is also increasingly becoming a hotbed for sports personalities, what with mega dollars at stake in the form of prize and appearance money in the different tournaments.
The increasing number of tourists landing in Dubai is a sign that it has done its groundwork to precision. On Monday, Dubai was again the focus of the sporting world.
Four major football clubs enthralled football lovers in the Mohammed bin Rashid International Football Championship. The tournament gives local residents an opportunity to watch top global football talent in action in their own backyard.
The United Arab Emirates and Qatar are contenders for the 2016 Olympics. Both are also trying to promote their respective countries as destinations for sports tourism. While Dubai is miles ahead, Doha, the capital of Qatar, is trying to match its progress on the sporting frontier.
The tournament was organized taking into account the winter break in some of the leagues in Europe.
Olympique de Marseille (France), FC Bayern Munchen (Germany), Societa Sportive Lazio SpA (Italy), Sport Lisboa e Benefica (Portugal) are all here for the top football action that will keep both the locals and the huge expatriate population in good cheers.
In Monday's first match, Benefica won against Bayern 4-2 in the penalties after being locked goalless at fulltime. In the second match, Lazio won 3-1 over Marseille.
The third place play-offs and the final will take place on Jan. 10.
Aside from the Mohammed bin Rashid tournament there was more football action yesterday when Germany's VfB Stuttgart and the local United Arab Emirates national team locked horns in the Dubai Football Challenge cup match. The national side won 2-1 over the German club.
Dubai is increasingly becoming a dream sports destinations for many a sports organizations. Taking advantage of the tax-free atmosphere, many a sports bodies have moved their base here -- including the ICC, the International Cricket Council. A host of other changes is occurring in the sports frontiers in the Dubai emirate.
The "Dubai Sports City" is turning out to be a breeding ground for many academies for different sports. Golf, cricket, football, tennis, hockey will all have academies in Dubai.
Manchester united soccer schools, the ICC global cricket academy, the Butch Harman school of golf, the David Lloyd tennis academy and the FIH world hockey academy are the some of the academies lined up for posts in the city.
Certainly, the United Arab Emirates is trying to take sports to new heights in the region and the four clubs tournament is a path in that direction. |
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