In a groundbreaking move for sports education in the UAE, Olympic legend Lord Sebastian Coe has been appointed special advisor for sports at the soon-to-open GEMS School of Research and Innovation (SRI). The four-time Olympic medallist and current President of World Athletics will help shape a new, ambitious sporting vision for students at the flagship GEMS school.
GEMS SRI in Dubai Sports City is scheduled to welcome its first students in August this year. Dubbed the most expensive school in Dubai, GEMS SRI campus aims to blend elite sports training with world-class academics.
Through his partnership with GEMS SRI, Lord Coe plans to elevate the delivery of sport in schools, infusing elite performance principles into grass roots physical education. The initiative will promote sports not just as a pathway to podiums, but as a platform for personal development, discipline and resilience.
A dominant force in middle-distance running during the 1970s and 1980s, Lord Coe is the only athlete in history to win back-to-back Olympic gold medals in the 1,500 metres. Lord Coe's contributions off the track have been equally influential, serving as a Member of Parliament in the UK, overseeing the successful London 2012 Olympics, and leading global athletics as President of World Athletics.
The announcement marks a bold new chapter for sports in education, as Dubai continues to attract world-class talent and visionaries to reshape its academic landscape.