10 Jan , 2026
Present at the World Sports Summit, here are the words of Alessandro Vergendo.
The World Sports Summit represented the largest event of its kind globally. I had the honor of experiencing firsthand this extraordinary hospitality which, as highlighted by Economy Middle East, brought together the world’s most influential professionals, sports executives, presidents of leading clubs, and representatives of international sports federations, organizations, and institutions, as well as sports icons and legends whose achievements at World Championships and the Olympic Games continue to inspire people worldwide.
All these individuals are contributing to shaping the future, because sport, as H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum stated,
“Sport in the UAE is not a luxury; it is a pillar of our society.”
I would like to thank H.E. Issam Kazim (Director General of the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism – DET) and H.E. Khalfan Juma Belhoul (Vice Chairman of the Dubai Sports Council and CEO of the Dubai Future Foundation – DFF) for sharing the importance of emotional management in facing challenges and in educating young people, as well as professional athletes, about self-awareness.
It clearly emerged how training must go beyond the physical dimension to include the mental aspect, which represents the true differentiating factor in peak performance, both in sport and in life. A training approach that develops emotional self-awareness and cognitive management, enabling individuals to transform problems, failures, or difficulties into opportunities and energy to evolve, transform themselves, and serve as leaders and role models for their teams and for society.
Throughout this valuable World Sports Summit, we heard many concrete examples: from Novak Djokovic to Roberto Baggio, from the world of basketball with Davis Baron and Nick Santonastasso, to football, as also emphasized by Gianni Infantino, FIFA President, and Brazilian football legend Cafu.
I would like to thank Imran Saleh Aljasmi and Bader Arib for their affection and friendship. I would also like to extend my congratulations to H.E. Dr. Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi.
Congratulations to the organizers: this inaugural event was promoted by the Dubai Sports Council under the guidance and patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the United Arab Emirates, and Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai, with the valuable collaboration of the DET.
The event took place at the Madinat Jumeirah Hotel, Dubai Marina.
This first inaugural edition was held under the theme:
“Uniting the World Through Sport.”
