February 08, 2024
The opening few days of this year’s Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open highlighted the tournament’s commitment to engaging youth in the local community and aiding the overall growth of tennis in the UAE.
The second edition of the WTA 500 event began on Saturday February 3 at the International Tennis Centre, Zayed Sports City, with stars such as Elena Rybakina and Ons Jabeur, along with Grand Slam-winners Naomi Osaka and Emma Raducanu among those taking part.
Sunday February 4 marked Kids Day at the event which featured coaching clinics, in association with Tennis 360, attended by professional players Diane Parry and Marie Bouzkova.
In the lead-up to the tournament, The Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open Schools Program was launched with the aim of enhancing the overall educational experience for children across the capital and introducing them to the sport of tennis through a series of engaging events and activities.
The initiative engaged 115 educational institutions including nurseries, along with private, public and charter schools through 25 morning assemblies hosted at schools across Abu Dhabi, where guest speakers provided an insightful introduction to tennis and the tournament itself.
The 45-minute assemblies also included a series of interactive games to ensure the children were focused, along with question and answer sessions, while those in attendance were given special goodie bags to take away. In total, over 10,000 children took part in the assemblies, which helped to generate excitement and anticipation ahead of the event.
Additionally, 30 of the schools which signed up to the program will enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience by participating in the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open Closing Ceremony, which takes place on Sunday February 11.
The children involved will proudly display flags on the stadium court in front of both fans and players, which they have designed specifically for the event, each bearing meaningful messages, creating memories which will last a lifetime.
Other activations as part of the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Schools Program included the launch of a Nationwide Art Competition, a unique initiative aimed at inspiring creativity and environmental consciousness among students.
Under the theme ‘showcasing tennis using recycled items,’ the competition encouraged students across Abu Dhabi to express their innovation and artistic talents while promoting sustainability, with a selection of entries placed on display in the Fan Village.
A total of 90 schools will be attending the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open over the course of the tournament.