(MENAFN Press) Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Whether it's hosting the Olympics, being home to some of the world's most renowned football clubs or hosting matches at Old Trafford, Britain is at the heart of world sport With the English Premier League's 2012/2013 season in full swing, citizens of the UAE and the UK are pulled into the enticing game of football.
With the Middle East being one of the biggest regions to support football and many UAE residents avidly watching the game, it is no surprise that there is an unbreakable tie between the Emirates and Britain. The most popular sport in Britain has captured the hearts of individuals worldwide with passionate fans everywhere, most notably in Abu Dhabi.
"Historically, the precious game was first played between British soldiers and Emirati local teams on rough grounds before the formation of the country," said Carol Maddison, UAE Manager, VisitBritain.
Also, in Abu Dhabi, the Manchester City School of Football recently started its 10-week program featuring the training program of the Manchester City football team. This includes professional football training from top MCFC coaches, available for 5-18 year olds. The School of Football is run on the exact same principles that the official Manchester City players have to follow, making it a one in a lifetime opportunity.
The UAE capital of Abu Dhabi owns the Barclays Premier League top team in 2011 - Manchester City. His Highness Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan bought the club in September 2008. Further strengthening the bond, Manchester City now has many partners from Abu Dhabi such as Etihad, Etisalat, Aabar Investment and Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority.
Games like Manchester City versus their infamous rival teams Wigan and Chelsea in November will bring worldwide attention. Game day excitement is inevitable and will be most evident at the famous Etihad Stadium when it is time for kick off.
The Premier League is one of the most watched sporting events in the world, with tickets to watch the games live selling out in minutes. With 20 clubs included, research from Visit Britain shows that nearly a million overseas visitors are expected to watch their favourite teams play.
In Britain, sport lovers can take a visit to their favourite team's local stadium to get a chance to hear about the history, their star players and hero's and see inside the famous changing rooms where all the behind the scene action takes place. They even get a chance to walk out onto the hallowed turf to experience what the players feel and see the entire stadium from their point of view.
The most famous stadiums include Etihad Stadium (the ground of the champions, Manchester City); Old Trafford (Manchester United); Anfield (Liverpool); Stamford Bridge (Chelsea); Sports Direct Arena (Newcastle United); and the Emirates Stadium (Arsenal).
