Growing Abu Dhabi, learning in Oxford

For the last year or so we’ve been part of a team working closely with Ross Baxter and the Department of Community Development in Abu Dhabi, around an Emirate-wide community sport programme called Degayeg. It’s been an incredible journey, and one that has included strength training sessions in parks, community walks and runs, learn-to-cycle programmes, and wellness festivals.

The Degayeg project was recently awarded 1st place in the Sports Inclusion Initiative of the Year category at the 2026 Middle East Sports Industry Awards (SPIA). However, whilst that recognition from our sport and physical activity peers was an incredibly proud moment, and one for which we were hugely grateful, the ultimate prize is always seeing people being active and social.

I’m super excited therefore that today we launched a beginner running (and walking) programme in partnership with the Abu Dhabi Summer of Sport. Path to 5K is a free 8-week programme led by professional coaches, designed to help build fitness and confidence in a fun, supportive and welcoming environment, no matter the starting point. Led locally by Darren O'Riordan and the team at Snö Performance we can't wait to see the results of weeks and months of discussions and preparation as they turn into real people taking real steps.

Closer to home (sort of), Chris Lomax and I spent Monday with friends at Oxford University discussing opportunities to take community sport around the world for global good. And then Chris headed on to London for a Parliamentary event marking one year of the UK / Morocco strategic partnership. The session had a massive focus on football, due partly to the World Cup kicking off this week but mainly as Morocco will be co-hosting in 2030.

Obviously we feel incredibly passionate about the potential for community sport to sit alongside elite competitive sport, a point Chris made as he met with representatives across senior diplomatic and corporate worlds.

And finally, I had the great fortune earlier this week to spend time chatting to James Harwood and Annabell Naylor, who are growing a wonderful community swimming programme in Armidale, Australia, called The Sunday K.

Do check them out here: https://thesundayk.com.au/

Have a great weekend wherever you are,