Basketball, cricket, football (soccer), international volleyball and traditional volleyball will be offered as team sports at the 2016 Games. Athletes will also compete in individual sports such as badminton, chess, golf, squash, swimming, tennis, table tennis, track and field and wrestling.
“Dubai's central location makes it an ideal host city,” says Sultan Ali, Project Lead for the 2016 Games. As a cosmopolitan hub in the Arabian Peninsula with world-class amenities, the city attracts visitors worldwide. “We are expecting many spectators to attend the 2016 Games, and it is advantageous that this city can be easily accessed by the global Jamat.”
The Games will take place in July — a hot and humid month in the desert city. A majority of the sports events will therefore be held indoors in temperature-controlled environments. Outdoor events will be scheduled for early mornings or late evenings when temperatures will be cooler.
The size and scope of the 2016 Games are anticipated to be larger than the 2008 Games held in Nairobi. To participate, athletes must first qualify through National Sports Tournaments organised by their respective National Councils. In certain instances, exceptions may be granted to athletes who cannot participate in a National Sports Tournament. Some tournaments have already taken place, while others will get underway in the coming months.
The Canadian Ismaili Games, which took place in Calgary at the beginning of August, brought together Ismailis from British Columbia, Edmonton, Ontario, Ottawa, Prairies, and Quebec and the Maritimes. Tajikistan also held its tournament at the beginning of August in Khorog, where Ismaili athletes competed in several sporting events against the backdrop of the Pamir Mountains.
“Our National Sports Festival brought together athletes from distant villages and regions throughout Tajikistan”, says Dastanbui Mamadsaidov, Member of the Aga Khan Youth & Sports Portfolio and Jubilee Games National Coordinator for Tajikistan. “Many athletes undertook difficult journeys, traveling over challenging terrain. But the spirit of the tournament and the unity of the Jamat served as a great occasion to bring Tajik Ismailis across the country together.”
Qualifying athletes are now looking towards Dubai.
“The Jubilee Games are a unique opportunity to develop and showcase the sporting talents of the worldwide Jamat,” says Huzur Mukhi Amiruddin Thanawala, President of the Ismaili Council for the United Arab Emirates.
“The Games are now less than one year away, and the Dubai Jamat is excited to host this international sporting event that will bring together athletes from the global Ismaili Muslim community, fostering excellence in sport and healthy competition.”
