Sport can be a powerful platform for teams and athletes to create change within their respective communities and local economies and Abu Dhabi-owned Manchester City football club is at the vanguard of this arena.
“We believe that football can bring about positive social change. Today, our commitment to community in Manchester and around the world is stronger than ever,” says Tom Pitchon, director of City Football Foundation at the City Football Group, part of Abu Dhabi United Group, which owns the English Premier League leaders.
Time and again, an athlete’s voice and actions can generate positive experiences for people globally. There are multiple examples of how certain players and teams either stand up for their beliefs or go beyond their means to help the communities they are part of.
Recent research conducted by New Economy Manchester found that there was an overall return on investment of £1.63 per pound (Dh8.35) earned from Manchester City’s City in the Community disability football programme – which is aimed at raising awareness of issues faced by individuals with disabilities.
The same research also found that the group’s Kicks programme (with the primary objective of reducing crime and anti-social behaviour among youth) provided an overall social value of £1.98 per pound.
A report by EY on the economic benefits provided by EPL clubs states: "The Premier League supports a broad range of employment opportunities across the economy. The Premier League and its clubs supported over 100,000 full time equivalent (FTE) jobs in the UK in 2013/14. The majority of jobs (95,483) are supported by Premier League clubs across direct (6,140), indirect (60,145) and induced (29,198) impacts." This shows the significance of the Premier League and its clubs’ supply chains in supporting a large number of jobs, EY said. This is, in part, because a large part of this supply chain is made up of labour intensive sectors such as those supporting matchday revenues (eg hospitality and catering) and retail.
In addition, to the industries which are supported through the Premier League and clubs, their supply chains and employee spending, there are also other parts of the economy which indirectly benefit from the EPL’s success. The league attracts tourists from across the globe, helps to stimulate demand across the hospitality sector, supports a growing media and high-tech industry, represents a significant proportion of gambling revenues and is a key pillar of the UK brand and image abroad.
But it's not just the top EPL teams that generate local economic gain. This season Stoke City began its 10th consecutive Premier League campaign.
The success of the Staffordshire club, in the midlands of England, on the pitch has led to impressive local economic and social benefits off the pitch, with a recent report by Ernst & Young (EY) finding that the club contributed £132 million (gross value added) to the economy, and directly contributed £61m of tax to public finances in 2015/16.
Over the last 15 years, Premier League funding via the Football Foundation and Football Stadia Improvement Fund, has contributed to 99 projects worth a total of £25m to the region.
David Sidaway, City Director, City of Stoke-on-Trent, believes the role Stoke City has played in the health of the local area should not be under-estimated. "Having a Premier League club in the city really puts us on the map and means the city is talked about globally.
"A strong international profile is crucial in attracting mobile investment."
Simon Chadwick, a professor of sports enterprise at Salford Business School near Manchester in north-west England, says football also has a central role to play in helping local societies address issues of cohesion and division.
“The sport has a long history of bringing communities together, and of providing common identity and understanding among sometimes-disparate groups. However, football can also be incredibly divisive too; hooliganism remains an issue in some parts of the world; corruption continues to undermine public trust in the sport; whilst the avarice of some players, clubs and leagues accentuates division rather than healing it,” he says.
By placing the game at the heart of its plans, Manchester City’s Foundation has continued to use the power of football to create opportunities and build better futures – by focusing on three key themes of health, education and inclusion.
“During the 2017/18 season, 40,000 young people across the city will be positively impacted by the Foundation’s programmes, through the delivery of over 50,000 sessions, the equivalent of 1 million contact hours. As well as this, £3m is being invested back into the local community, helping people across the city get a better shot at life,” says Mr Pitchon.
However, it’s not just in Manchester where the club’s community programmes continue to go from strength to strength. Equally important is City Football Group’s Cityzens Giving football project - all run by Young Leaders in 18 cities around the world, designed to address the local social issues that affect their daily lives.
All the young leaders are connected by a common goal - football - allowing them to share experiences and methodologies, encouraging peer exchange and learning across programmes and cultures.
“As the programme develops, members of staff have observed young people go on a journey of personal growth. It’s amazing to see the changes. Young people have commented that they have gained leadership skills, confidence, insight into how football can be used to address social issues, and skills which they can put into practice,” said Mr Pitchon.
In the UAE, 2018 has been distinguished as the Year of Zayed – honouring the nation’s late founding father Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan – aiming to highlight his role in unifying the nation into one that is accepting of other cultures, tolerance, advancement and charity.
_______________
Read more:
Will South Korea's economy benefit from Winter Olympics?
Amazon is said to plan bid for Premier League rights
Manchester City owners team up with Pep Guardiola's brother to buy major stake in Spanish club Girona
_______________
Community outreach had primarily been initiated at the club level, with efforts ranging from arrangements with club athletes to visit children at local hospitals to certain clubs honouring orphans during a half time of any given game.
However, in the past few years, UAE’s primary football league – the Arabian Gulf League – has undergone a significant change of direction on its approach towards social initiatives.
Mohamed Ahmed Al Bahri Al Hammadi, an Arabian Gulf League's Pro League Committee executive office member and chairman of the Community Committee, describes Year of Zayed an opportunity for everyone in the community to express their love for the late founding father, a century from his birth.
“It offers us the chance to showcase his role in creating a young nation that has become an example in development, prosperity and growth. A source of giving to the people of the world and a model for tolerance and peaceful coexistence, which made the UAE a preferred destination to live and work for all nationalities,” says Mr Al Hammadi.
A few examples of such initiatives include the “Our Father Zayed” initiative in which the Arabian Gulf League (AGL) managed to fulfil the dreams of three orphans in collaboration with the UAE Red Crescent. Then there was the MD15 dedicated to the "Our Role Model Zayed" initiative, where the league expressed gratitude to the longest-serving media professionals in sports media.
“It is important for us to engage all walks of society in football and involve players in humanitarian and charity work," says Mr Mr Al Hammadi. "Football is more than just a game; it is a message to the community delivered by every member of the AGL system. Last season, when we engaged various sections of our community in the ‘Year of Giving’ initiatives, we were delighted with the joy of a child, the smile of a participant and the emotions of a player. We sent a message that football isn’t just about scoring a goal or winning a trophy. It is a humane message above everything."
The general aim of any organisation interested in genuinely and positively impacting a cause is to do so while amplifying the notion of shared value from top to bottom, involving all stakeholders.
The elements driving football clubs to pursue a social agenda are fairly similar to those in the corporate world, although there are differences in the setting strategies and implementing core objectives with goals structured to reach those.
“At the PLC, we are keen on connecting communities through football, building more channels of communication in line with our 2017-2020 strategic plan in terms of boosting professionalism, engaging followers, including all parts of the community, spreading the culture of sport and many more objectives,” says Mr Al Hammadi.
Similarly, Manchester City’s core objective when it comes to social responsibility is to use the power of football to bring a positive change to communities and the local economy in Manchester and around the globe.
“With the support and engagement from our passionate fans, we are using the ‘football effect’ to promote health, confidence, safe spaces and pathways into training and jobs for young people in Manchester and around the world,” says Mr Pitchon.
Social outreach efforts across football clubs have significantly increased over the past decade or so and football clearly performs a social role, something that clubs should acknowledge and embrace, says Prof Chadwick.
“In terms of football's roots, clubs need to remain aware of their social origins and moral obligations; in commercial terms, most 21st century corporations see corporate social responsibility as a keystone of their operations; and in political terms, football is widely seen by governments as a positive influence on relations with other countries. All of this suggests a new, more important role to come for football clubs in the future."
Manchester City will continue to take a lead role in social change, utilising its local and global brand power and financial muscle for further growth and development of the game and the local economy, as well as communities around the world, says Mr Pitchon.
“We will continue to grow our impact and empower young people’s lives through football.”
And that really is the name of the game.
The%20specs%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2.0-litre%204cyl%20turbo%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E261hp%20at%205%2C500rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E400Nm%20at%201%2C750-4%2C000rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E7-speed%20dual-clutch%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFuel%20consumption%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E10.5L%2F100km%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENow%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh129%2C999%20(VX%20Luxury)%3B%20from%20Dh149%2C999%20(VX%20Black%20Gold)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
DUBAI%20BLING%3A%20EPISODE%201
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECreator%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENetflix%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EKris%20Fade%2C%20Ebraheem%20Al%20Samadi%2C%20Zeina%20Khoury%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, (Leon banned).
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
The smuggler
Eldarir had arrived at JFK in January 2020 with three suitcases, containing goods he valued at $300, when he was directed to a search area.
Officers found 41 gold artefacts among the bags, including amulets from a funerary set which prepared the deceased for the afterlife.
Also found was a cartouche of a Ptolemaic king on a relief that was originally part of a royal building or temple.
The largest single group of items found in Eldarir’s cases were 400 shabtis, or figurines.
Khouli conviction
Khouli smuggled items into the US by making false declarations to customs about the country of origin and value of the items.
According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, he provided “false provenances which stated that [two] Egyptian antiquities were part of a collection assembled by Khouli's father in Israel in the 1960s” when in fact “Khouli acquired the Egyptian antiquities from other dealers”.
He was sentenced to one year of probation, six months of home confinement and 200 hours of community service in 2012 after admitting buying and smuggling Egyptian antiquities, including coffins, funerary boats and limestone figures.
For sale
A number of other items said to come from the collection of Ezeldeen Taha Eldarir are currently or recently for sale.
Their provenance is described in near identical terms as the British Museum shabti: bought from Salahaddin Sirmali, "authenticated and appraised" by Hossen Rashed, then imported to the US in 1948.
- An Egyptian Mummy mask dating from 700BC-30BC, is on offer for £11,807 ($15,275) online by a seller in Mexico
- A coffin lid dating back to 664BC-332BC was offered for sale by a Colorado-based art dealer, with a starting price of $65,000
- A shabti that was on sale through a Chicago-based coin dealer, dating from 1567BC-1085BC, is up for $1,950
Test
Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Star rating: 2/5
Business Insights
- As per the document, there are six filing options, including choosing to report on a realisation basis and transitional rules for pre-tax period gains or losses.
- SMEs with revenue below Dh3 million per annum can opt for transitional relief until 2026, treating them as having no taxable income.
- Larger entities have specific provisions for asset and liability movements, business restructuring, and handling foreign permanent establishments.
How to donate
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200
How tumultuous protests grew
- A fuel tax protest by French drivers appealed to wider anti-government sentiment
- Unlike previous French demonstrations there was no trade union or organised movement involved
- Demonstrators responded to online petitions and flooded squares to block traffic
- At its height there were almost 300,000 on the streets in support
- Named after the high visibility jackets that drivers must keep in cars
- Clashes soon turned violent as thousands fought with police at cordons
- An estimated two dozen people lost eyes and many others were admitted to hospital
The biog
Favourite book: Men are from Mars Women are from Venus
Favourite travel destination: Ooty, a hill station in South India
Hobbies: Cooking. Biryani, pepper crab are her signature dishes
Favourite place in UAE: Marjan Island
Pieces of Her
Stars: Toni Collette, Bella Heathcote, David Wenham, Omari Hardwick
Director: Minkie Spiro
Rating:2/5
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
More on animal trafficking
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
Washmen Profile
Date Started: May 2015
Founders: Rami Shaar and Jad Halaoui
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Laundry
Employees: 170
Funding: about $8m
Funders: Addventure, B&Y Partners, Clara Ventures, Cedar Mundi Partners, Henkel Ventures
Juliot Vinolia’s checklist for adopting alternate-day fasting
- Don’t do it more than once in three days
- Don’t go under 700 calories on fasting days
- Ensure there is sufficient water intake, as the body can go in dehydration mode
- Ensure there is enough roughage (fibre) in the food on fasting days as well
- Do not binge on processed or fatty foods on non-fasting days
- Complement fasting with plant-based foods, fruits, vegetables, seafood. Cut out processed meats and processed carbohydrates
- Manage your sleep
- People with existing gastric or mental health issues should avoid fasting
- Do not fast for prolonged periods without supervision by a qualified expert
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
THE BIO
Age: 33
Favourite quote: “If you’re going through hell, keep going” Winston Churchill
Favourite breed of dog: All of them. I can’t possibly pick a favourite.
Favourite place in the UAE: The Stray Dogs Centre in Umm Al Quwain. It sounds predictable, but it honestly is my favourite place to spend time. Surrounded by hundreds of dogs that love you - what could possibly be better than that?
Favourite colour: All the colours that dogs come in
UAE - India ties
The UAE is India’s third-largest trade partner after the US and China
Annual bilateral trade between India and the UAE has crossed US$ 60 billion
The UAE is the fourth-largest exporter of crude oil for India
Indians comprise the largest community with 3.3 million residents in the UAE
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi first visited the UAE in August 2015
His visit on August 23-24 will be the third in four years
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, visited India in February 2016
Sheikh Mohamed was the chief guest at India’s Republic Day celebrations in January 2017
Modi will visit Bahrain on August 24-25
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
SPECS
Engine: 4-litre V8 twin-turbo
Power: 630hp
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: 8-speed Tiptronic automatic
Price: From Dh599,000
On sale: Now
RESULTS
6.30pm: Emirates Holidays Maiden (TB) Dh 82,500 (Dirt) 1,900m
Winner: Lady Snazz, Richard Mullen (jockey), Satish Seemar (trainer).
7.05pm: Arabian Adventures Maiden (TB) Dh 82,500 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Zhou Storm, Connor Beasley, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.
7.40pm: Emirates Skywards Handicap (TB) Dh 82,500 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Rich And Famous, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer.
8.15pm: Emirates Airline Conditions (TB) Dh 120,000 (D) 1,400m
Winner: Rio Angie, Sam Hitchcock, Doug Watson.
8.50pm: Emirates Sky Cargo (TB) Dh 92,500 (D) 1,400m
Winner: Kinver Edge, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
9.15pm: Emirates.com (TB) Dh 95,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner: Firnas, Xavier Ziani, Salem bin Ghadayer.
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
