GEMS Metropole School – Motor City is working with the UAE Wrestling Federation to promote Olympic wrestling. This makes it the first school in the UAE to include the sport in its daily lessons. The goal of the initiative, which was announced on August 10, 2025, is to motivate students, develop local talent, and give them a direct path from school to the Olympics.
The official launch will take place in September with a grand ceremony and the signing of a memorandum of understanding. The programme will be open to all students, giving every child a chance to experience the sport, regardless of prior experience.
World-class facilities
GEMS Metropole School has transformed its campus into a high-performance sports hub. Facilities include the Under Armour High Performance Institute, a sports nutrition lab with a full-time nutritionist, a strength and conditioning zone equipped with VALD (Vertical Assessment of Landing Dynamics) sports science technology, and the KULA Recovery Zone featuring cold-water therapy and an infrared sauna. A newly developed combat area boasts international-standard Fuji mats and a boxing ring to support wrestling and other combat sports.
Training and talent development
All PE staff have completed Wrestling Level 1 certification to ensure expert training. A specialist combat coach will join next month to lead competitive sessions. Wrestling will now be taught in PE lessons, while talented students will join the Mustang competitive sports pathway, receiving two to three hours of specialist coaching weekly. Training will also cover nutrition, conditioning, and mindset preparation.
Breaking barriers
Mike Lowery, Director of Sport, said: “High performance is for everyone, not the lucky few. By embedding Olympic-level facilities and coaching into the school, we are removing barriers like travel time, cost, and closed access.”
Boosting the UAE’s Olympic ambitions
The UAE Wrestling Federation sees this partnership as a step toward producing athletes who can compete on the global stage. By promoting Olympic wrestling within the school and the wider community, GEMS Metropole School is playing a key role in supporting the UAE’s National Sports Strategy 2031.
