Swiss International School Dubai, one of the emirate’s youngest schools, recently ranked as one of the world’s top 100 private schools, is now adding a state-of-the-art track and field athletics academy to its Al Jadaf-based site.
The 1800-pupil school, one of the region’s only IB boarding schools, already offers students world-class athletics facilities – including a 400m running track, an Olympic-sized swimming pool, a full-sized Techno Gym and a cardio suite. The new track and field athletics academy is a logical extension of this. To ensure its success the school has partnered with AIS Athletics; the UAE’s leading provider of track and field athletics for young athletes of all ages and abilities. The partnership allows SISD to utilise the world-class coaching team at AIS Athletics, which includes current and former Olympians / international athletes, World Championship and European Championship medallists, and qualified/accredited coaches in a range of different events; all based in the UAE.
Run in partnership with AIS Athletics
Set to open for the new academic year in September 2023, the SISD Athletics Academy represents a great training pathway for talented athletics students to work towards future university scholarships and even international honours in athletics representing their home countries.
Students can train before and after school with dedicated AIS coaches and reduce the need to travel to alternative training locations. Students will receive five dedicated and event-specific training sessions weekly with the AIS coaches.
Students taking part in the SISD Athletics Academy will attend day or boarding school at SISD and undertake the IB curriculum. They will then train outside of school hours and compete in school, national and international athletics meets, with the opportunity to obtain qualifying times from World Athletics ratified events.
AIS coaches will provide dedicated training sessions before and after school for all Academy members
Last year, SISD launched the Speedo Swim Academy, which has been a huge success, and now the school is planning to build on that swimming success by adding the dedicated Athletics Academy and working towards becoming a hub for key sports by providing both expert coaching and first-class facilities.
Rob Duncan, Head of Sport, says: “Our Swim Academy, which started last year, has been a tremendous success. We recently ranked second across all Dubai schools at the recent DASSA Swim competition. We now want to build on that sporting success and expand our Academies to include track and field athletics as well.
“The students who train in the morning before school will have the opportunity to join our boarders and our swim team for breakfast, and then head straight into school. No other school can offer this.”
Umar Hameed, founder of AIS Athletics said: “SISD already has an amazing track and field set-up, and one of the best school gym facilities I have ever seen. With the addition to our coaching support, I believe this is a great opportunity for talented athletes not only to access an excellent school but also to utilise the school’s fantastic facilities. For busy students and parents, this is a game changer. No more driving across Dubai for late night or early morning training sessions and spending hours in traffic!”
SISD is a member of the Dubai Affiliated School Sport Association (DASSA). DASSA oversees school sporting competitions for more than 70 Dubai schools in a plethora of sports. The academic year includes three sports seasons, aligned with an after-school activities calendar.
SISD currently has competitive teams for both boys and girls in the following sports: Basketball, Football, Golf, Tennis, Swimming, and Track and Field.