Thousands take up Dubai Fitness Challenge

THOUSANDS JOIN RAFT OF ACTION-PACKED ACTIVITIES AS 30-DAY CAMPAIGN KICKS OFF

The Opening Carnival Weekend of the second 30-day Dubai Fitness Challenge drew thousands of adrenaline pumped residents to Dubai Festival City yesterday.

The brainchild of Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Executive Council, the event saw the promenade of Festival City Mall come alive.

The grass promenade buzzed to foot tapping music along with a plethora of fitness challenges, both indoors and on the waterfront. From boot camps for kids and squat and sit-up challenges for the new fitness converts to high intensity training as well as high intensity workouts, yogathons, biking, sit-ups and tugs-of-war, there was plenty of action.

Young mothers with babies in prams and toddlers, women in abayas, teenagers and youth personified the spirit of the challenge and were found doing whatever they could.

Those who couldn’t take up the challenge just walked around soaking up the fun and thrill of physical fitness displays on the lawns.

Britons Emma Jones and Nick Stephens flew in from Thailand for a taste of the action. Stephens was declared runner-up in the Squat Challenge. “I am visiting Dubai with my fiance Nick and when we heard of the fitness event we just had to be here. We are great fitness enthusiasts and love the fun of this event,” said Jones, who plans to stay here for the entire month and participate in as many events as possible.

Anna Loren, Rihab Abdullah and Fatima Bagsanawale, all colleagues from Prime Hospital, decided to make the most of their weekend by taking part in the challenge. “Our hospital supports the challenge. We are really enjoying the challenge,” said the girls who participated in three back to back sessions of high intensity training.

Armeen Omran, a Libyan expatriate who brought his toddler son Inran Ameen in a pram, said: “My wife and I are not able to take part because of our little boy, but wherever possible we get him on his feet and teach him to move to the music. He will surely start keeping fit earlier than us.”

Pictures: Ahmed Ramzan/Gulf News People watch the ‘Boxing by TK MMA’ programme on the main stage at the Opening Weekend Carnival at Dubai Festival City.

The young and old test their skills on the rock climbing wall.

Above & left: People join the ‘Unlimited moves by Fitness First’ programme on the main stage at Dubai Festival City yesterday.

People participate in a tug-of-war contest at Dewa stand.

The obstacle course under way at the Mai Dubai stand.

A boy displays his flexibility at the Sewa stand.