Beach bodybuilding to debut in Dubai

It will be a bodybuilding event with a difference when the first Beach Sky Dive Dubai Bodybuilding Championships is held on December 8 and 9 at the Jumeirah beach.

Organised by the Emirates Bodybuilding Federation (EBBF) under the patronage of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Sports Council (DSC), it will probably be the first such event to be held in the Gulf.

Sky Dive Dubai is sponsoring this championship which carries total prize money of Dh15,000 and is expected to attract 100 participants, according to Ahmed Mohamed Alhouri, vice-president of the EBBF at the launch of the event at Meydan Hotel.

Majid Abdul Rahman Al Bastaki, Media Director of the Office of the Crown Prince of Dubai, affirmed the whole hearted support of Sheikh Hamdan for this unique sports event which will continue as part of the 40th UAE National Day celebrations.

The weigh-in will be held on Wednesday December 7 from 5 to 8pm. The pre-judging will be held on December 8 from 11am at Jumeirah Court IV while the final is scheduled to begin at 3pm on December 9.

There will be four weight categories: 65kg, 75kg, 85kg and +85kg with participation open to UAE citizens and residents.

“Actually I thought to come up with a new idea to do a beach bodybuilding championship for the first time ever in the UAE. We have an idea and I came up to Sheikh Hamdan and said what do you think like having people jumping from a plane and coming to the place where the competition is. He loved the idea and said go ahead,” said Osama Al Shafar, president of the EBBF.

“Generally Sheikh Hamdan is interested is interested in anything to do with athletics and sport. He is a very fit person himself and generally he likes to support athletics and fitness in the UAE,” said Jason Russell, CEO of Sky Dive Dubai.

“We are supported by Sheikh Hamdan and we wanted to be here to show our support for the EBBF in any way that we can,” he added.

Following on from beach soccer and beach volleyball, now beach bodybuilding will debut in Dubai.

“As you know Dubai got an award for being third best sports city in the world and this effort doesn’t come only come from the Dubai Sports Council. It comes from all participating in sports and hosting or especially organising events that are held annually. Therefore the Dubai Sports Council is supporting and thanking every organiser because at the end the winning is not only for the event itself, but for the image of Dubai, sport in Dubai and for people who have a passion for sports in Dubai,” said Ahmed Al Rahoomi, head of Corporate Communications of DSC.
 

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