DUBAI IS HUB FOR GLOBAL FITNESS TRENDS
As part of the closing weekend for the 30-day Dubai Fitness Challenge, 10 international competitors in calisthenics will be heading to the city to compete for a Dh25,000 prize during the fourth ‘Battle of the Bars’ competition.
Created by the World Calisthenics Organisation (WCO), this is the world’s first calisthenics competition based on individual battles. Last year’s winner, Columbian expatriate Eryc Ortiz, will once again be representing the UAE, where he currently works as a calisthenics coach.
Speaking to Khaleej Times on Wednesday, Brendan Cosso, cofounder and vice-president of WCO, said Dubai is now one of the benchmark destinations for community fitness.
“Dubai has become one of the fastest growing countries to drive global trends in fitness. It’s become the Makkah of fitness, if you will.”
With the aim of expanding knowledge of calisthenics and the growth of the discipline within the region, this weekend, competitors will go head-to-head in a threeminute battle.
On Friday, 16 GCC competitors will showcase their skills and battle for the crown. Then on Saturday, 10 international finalists will be flying in to take part in the main competition, with Ortiz flying the flag for the UAE.
With battles held in different countries throughout the world, Cosso said Dubai has become one of the “most popular hotspots for this growing street workout trend”.
On November 17 and 18, competitors in Dubai will go head-tohead during each round, with the winners of each battle getting the chance to qualify to compete in the main battle that takes place in Los Angeles every year.
Speaking about the competition, Yousuf Al Gurg, managing director at Gravity Calisthenics Gym Dubai said the battle will be judged on strength, endurance, agility, creativity and technique, with one competitor being eliminated in each round. It will take place from 3pm onwards at La Mer, Jumeirah 1, Dubai. Impact of DFC The Dubai Fitness Challenge may have had the aim to hit 1 million moves throughout its 30-day duration, but since then the fitness trend has skyrocketed. To date, residents across the city have smashed the initial target, with more than 2.6 billion moves logged so far.
Speaking to Khaleej Times, Saleh Al Braik, a Dubai Tourism representative, said the city is on a “mission to inspire people to lead a healthier lifestyle”.
“I work with the Dubai Tourism and if you look at the social media trends within fitness, Dubai is looking strong. This city used to be a family destination, a shopping destination. It still caters to both those audiences, but now Dubai is becoming a fitness tourism destination too.”
Today, he said many people are now moving away from commercial gyms and are looking towards community gyms, so initiatives like the Dubai Fitness Challenge are a “no brainer” when it comes to promoting healthier lifestyles.
Dubai has become one of the fastest growing countries to drive global trends in fitness. It’s become the Makkah of fitness, if you will.” Brendan Cosso, co-founder and vice-president of WCO
This city used to be a family destination, a shopping destination. It still caters to both those audiences, but now Dubai is becoming a fitness tourism destination too.” Saleh Al Braik, a Dubai Tourism representative