Finals of Dubai Fitness Championship in Dubai Mall from Thursday

The Organising Committee announced the names of the 72 men and women who qualified for the finals of Dubai Fitness Championship in the category open to citizens and residents held under the auspices and support of Sheikh Majid bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority.

The championship is one of the initiatives aimed at raising community awareness about the importance of physical activity and sport, during which the finals will begin on Thursday (September 12) and will run until Saturday (September 14) at Dubai Ice Rink in The Dubai Mall.

The announcement was made at a press conference held on Tuesday morning at Dubai World Trade Centre, in the presence of Khalid Abdullah Chookah, Senior Manager - Support & Liaison at the Private Office of Sheikh Majid bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Director of the Dubai Fitness Championship, Ahmad Ibrahim, Marketing & Strategic Partnerships Manager of Dubai Sports Council, the official Partner of the event, Ahmed Abu Rahima, Vice-President of Government Relations at du, main sponsor of the event, Mark Botha, Group Operations and Marketing Manager at Fitness First, the fitness partner, Matt Ku, Referees Committee Chairman, noting that the championship is held with the support of Dubai Events and Dubai Ski circuit set up in The Dubai Mall.

Khalid Abdullah Chookah, Senior Manager - Support & Liaison at the Private Office of Sheikh Majid bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Director of the Dubai Fitness Championship said: "We express our appreciation and gratitude to the wise leadership of Sheikh Majid bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, for these leading sports community initiatives that will contribute to support the process of development of the United Arab Emirates, through a healthier and more vital youth and society capable of achievement and earning challenges."

He added: "The qualifications, which started on August 18 last month, witnessed a high turnout of citizens and residents as well as visitors from various countries such as the United States, and this has had a major impact in raising the competitiveness and stimulating the participants to provide the best deals to book their seats in the finals where the first 36 participants reached the finals in both men's and ladies’ categories."

Ahmad Ibrahim, Marketing & Strategic Partnerships Manager at DSC, praised the efforts of the championship organisers emphasizing on the council care to support these pioneering initiatives and said: "The efforts of the Organising Committee resulted in making this event the largest of its kind in Dubai and the United Arab Emirates, in terms of specialising in the competitive aspect of fitness and stimulating the physical activity, which has a positive impact on the younger generation by raising their potentials and enhancing their productivity in the long term."

Ahmed Abu Rahima, Vice President of Government Relations at du, said: “I extend my sincere thanks to Sheikh Majid bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Culture and Arts for allowing us the honour of being the main sponsor of the Dubai Fitness Championship. We thank His Highness' office, the Dubai Sports Council, and Fitness First for their excellent organisation of the event.”
 
Mark Botha, Group Operations and Marketing Manager at Fitness First, said: “Fitness First is proud to be the fitness partner for the second edition of the Dubai Fitness Championship 2013.The vision upheld by Sheikh Majid bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, to raise awareness on the importance of exercising, health and promoting fitness across the UAE to individuals and in particular Emirati citizens is in line with our mission to ‘make the world a fitter place’.”

As per the schedule for the finals to be held from September 12 to 14, the first day will have three sessions from 10.15 am to 12.45 pm; from 1 to 4 pm and 5 to 11 pm.

On the second day, action will shift to the Al Wasl Club swimming pool with the female category competition worked out from 7.50 to 9.30 am, while the men’s swimming will be held from 10.30 am to 12.10 pm.

There will be an additional two sessions in the evening with the first one from 1 to 3.30 pm and the second one from 4.30 to 10.30 pm.

The competition will conclude on the third day with a start at 4 pm and the prize awarding ceremony at 10.30 pm.

The championship will conclude on Saturday (September 14) with a tour held from 4pm to 10pm, followed by the coronation of the champions and the distribution of financial prizes where the Organising Committee allocated specially designed trophies to be granted to the winners along with financial prizes amounting to almost Dh1 million to be distributed to all contestants of men and women in the championship finals, beginning with Dh200,000 to the winners in both men and women categories.

The first three finalists will be also given distinctive trophies in addition to medals for all competitors.

The runner-up will be awarded Dh50,000, third Dh40,000, fourth Dh30,000, fifth Dh20,000, sixth Dh10,000, seventh Dh9,000, eighth Dh8,000, ninth Dh7,000, 10th Dh6,000, 11th Dh5,0000 and Dh4,000 each have been allocated to those ranking from 12 to 36."
 

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