Graduates of the Sports Leadership Program, implemented by Sharjah Capability Development in partnership with Sharjah Women’s Sports, took part in a series of professional and knowledge-focused visits designed to explore best practices and conduct benchmarking across sports governance, aquatics management, facility operations, and high-performance systems.
The visits form part of the program’s applied learning pathway, strengthening graduates’ ability to connect leadership and professional knowledge with real-world practice and translate the tools and concepts gained through the program into initiatives that contribute to developing the sports work environment. They also support Sharjah Women’s Sports’ efforts to expand participation, promote sports culture, and build a more sustainable women’s sports ecosystem.
At the University of Barcelona, participants attended a specialized lecture on sports governance that explored the distinctive nature of managing sports organizations and the importance of developing governance frameworks that reflect the specific characteristics of the sports sector, its stakeholders, and its operating structures.
The session highlighted that sports governance cannot simply be approached as an extension of government or corporate governance, given the unique nature of sport as an ecosystem that brings together regulatory requirements, investment considerations, athletes and teams, partners, and supporting entities.
The lecture also examined the role of sports governance in protecting organizations and strengthening their stability through clear responsibilities, institutional discipline, auditing, and the alignment of internal strategies with the direction of the wider sports bodies under which organizations operate. Participants were also introduced to digital models and tools that help sports entities assess their governance readiness, identify areas for improvement, and develop phased corrective plans tailored to each organization’s circumstances and needs.
The visits also included Club Natació Atlètic-Barceloneta (CNAB), where the delegation explored an integrated model that combines community and competitive sport across swimming and water polo.
The club’s structure includes teams across different age groups, as well as a senior women’s water polo team featuring Olympic-level athletes, alongside programs and activities that enable members of the community to participate in aquatic sports within an organized environment that serves both public participation and competitive teams.
The delegation also visited Centre d’Alt Rendiment (CAR) Sant Cugat, which specializes in athlete development through an integrated scientific and professional system encompassing specialized training, testing, recovery, medical, physiological, and nutritional services, alongside other support functions that contribute to improving athlete performance and strengthening preparation plans.
Her Excellency Hanan Al Mahmoud, Vice Chairperson of Sharjah Women’s Sports, said that exposure to best practices and benchmarking are important steps in advancing the women’s sports ecosystem.
“These visits allow us to study successful models and understand how they are managed before adapting relevant elements to our local context and the needs of women’s sports in Sharjah,” she said. “They also give our professionals greater opportunities to learn from specialized experiences and translate knowledge into practical tools that support both institutional and sports development.”
She added:
“We believe that developing the sports ecosystem requires professionals who are able to examine specialized experiences, analyze the elements behind their success, and connect them to the needs of sports work. This is where the Sports Leadership Program plays an important role in preparing practitioners with a broader understanding of the sector and the ability to contribute to initiatives and projects that serve women’s sports.”
Her Excellency Moza Al Shamsi, Director of Sharjah Women’s Sports, said the organization is committed to linking institutional development with learning from specialized experiences and exploring best practices.
“These visits reflect the diversity of sports professions that contribute to developing the ecosystem — from management and operations to training, scientific testing, recovery, and athlete support services,” she said. “We are keen for graduates of the Sports Leadership Program to benefit from these experiences in a practical way, strengthening their ability to connect professional knowledge with implementation and develop initiatives that promote sports culture, expand participation, and support a sustainable sports environment.”
She added:
“The diversity of the visits across sports governance, aquatics, and high-performance systems highlights the importance of developing a comprehensive understanding of sports work. Progress cannot be limited to training alone; it must also encompass management, planning, testing, recovery, and facility operations, all of which contribute to building a more integrated and sustainable sports ecosystem.”
The visits reflect the commitment of Sharjah Capability Development and Sharjah Women’s Sports to strengthening the practical impact of the Sports Leadership Program by providing graduates with applied learning opportunities and exposure to international best practices in governance, sports management, aquatics, and high-performance systems. This approach contributes to developing national capabilities and supporting continued progress across the women’s sports sector.
