Date 09.07.2026
Rashid bin Humaid Meets Snö Performance Delegation to Discuss Sports Performance Development
Sheikh Rashid bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, Vice President of the UAE National Olympic Committee, met with British expert James Downing, Project Director at Snö Performance, a company specialising in the development of sports performance systems. The meeting was attended by Faris Mohammed Al Mutawa, Secretary-General of the UAE National Olympic Committee, and Dr. Nasser Al Tamimi, Member of the Committee’s Board of Directors.
During the meeting, the participants reviewed the services provided by Snö Performance and discussed a number of proposals aimed at supporting the development of elite athletes in the UAE and enhancing the readiness of the national sports system for upcoming Olympic Games.
The proposal includes drawing on international best practices in elite sports development and adapting them to the UAE’s cultural and institutional context. This approach aims to establish an integrated national model that goes beyond simply replicating international experiences, instead tailoring them to the country’s priorities and sporting ambitions.
The proposed scope of support encompasses four key areas: translating national sports policies into measurable strategies and implementation plans; coordinating implementation and identifying suitable partners and qualified personnel; integrating the UAE’s existing sports resources into a unified system covering facilities, training, talent identification, athlete support and competition structures; and supporting national sports federations through assessments of governance, funding, facilities, sports science and athlete development pathways, followed by the direct implementation of improvement plans.
The proposal also includes nominating Pete McKnight for the position of Sports Director, drawing on his extensive experience in elite sports and high-performance development. His career spans more than 20 years in sports performance coaching across Summer and Winter Olympic disciplines since the Athens 2004 Olympic Games, alongside leadership and consultancy roles with international sports organisations and teams, including Formula 1, the French National Ski Team and the English Institute of Sport.
Snö Performance adopts a people-centred, evidence-based and data-driven approach to performance development, combining a local team with a global network of specialists in elite sports, sports medicine and leadership.
The proposal is founded on the principle that achieving sustainable Olympic results requires a structured and measurable system capable of supporting athletes over the long term, strengthening national sports federations and enhancing opportunities for competitive success and sporting achievements.
