ABU DHABI, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has set benchmarks in sports venues in the Middle East, but has to expand capacities to host major global sports events, a German expert said on Wednesday.
"With Zayed Sports City in Abu Dhabi and the Hezza Bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain, the UAE has set a regional benchmark," Michael Rennschmied, Founder and CEO of global sports venues business conferences organizer Coliseum spoke to Xinhua in an exclusive interview on the sidelines of a two-day conference.
The ongoing Coliseum Middle East and North Africa 2018 Summit kicked off on Wednesday in Abu Dhabi.
The stadium in Al Ain, which was built in 2014, can host up to 22,717 spectators.
"But if the UAE aims to reach out for Summer Olympic Games or Asian Games in the future, a mega arena which is capable of hosting up to 80,000 people will have to be built," said Rennschmied.
"The UAE should also build modern sports venues in other emirates like Ras al-Khaima or Fujairah to construct major sports venues," Rennschmied added.
The UAE has a population of approximately 10 million.
"A sports venue must have a free and speedy Wifi connection, a surrounding community that includes kids playing corners, restaurants, an e-sports venue with video games for teenagers and also shopping facilities," Rennschmied said when asked about construction of future sports venues.
In order to improve networking and information exchange, Coliseum will launch this year a global membership-based database so that professionals in stadium business can connect with each other, Rennschmied added.
