44 companies and 1,000 athletes get Dubai Corporate Sports Tournament underway

After only a relatively short time from the inception of the idea, in October 2013, to the event’s start, the inaugural Dubai Corporate Sports Tournament 2014 got underway last week, with 44 companies and 1,000 participants signed up to compete.

The six week-long corporate sports festival is a Dubai Sports Council initiative and held under the patronage of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Sports Council.
 
Many of the UAE’s most renowned companies are taking part to the tournament. These include: Etisalat, du, Dubai Holding, OSN, Dubai Duty Free, Emirates Airline, 3M, Fitness First, and many more.

The Dubai Corporate Sports Tournament 2014 (DCST) is based on a different format to many corporate sports events, which are typically staged over a single weekend.

This tournament, however, is set to be played out over a six-week period starting February 4 and culminating on the 'Grand Finals Day' on March 21.

With six different sporting disciplines, including: athletics (100m and 200m); seven-a-side football; eight-a-side cricket; 3-on-3 basketball; touch-rugby and ten-pin bowling; the tournament format will see teams meet and play every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings from 7:30pm until 10pm, up to March 13.

Apart from the ten-pin bowling, all events are to be held at Dubai Sports City and visitors are encouraged to come along and watch.

Commenting on the opening day and build up to the event, Dr. Ahmed Al Sharif, General Secretary of the Dubai Sports Council said: “Driving initiatives such as the Dubai Corporate Sports Tournament, is something Dubai Sports Council takes great pride in and to see so many participate at this year’s inaugural event is an encouraging sign that wider and co-ordinated efforts to encourage greater participation in sport and healthy lifestyles, in Dubai, is being realised in many diverse and interesting forms.”

Adil Yousif Al Bannay, Manager of Social Sports, Dubai Sports Council, added: “Dubai Corporate Sports Tournament 2014 (DCST 2014) is a positive vehicle for the promotion of health, fitness and the competitive spirit, in the work place and we are pleased to have had such a great response to the event’s first outing. This tournament establishes a great community atmosphere where employees can relax from work challenges, create healthier competitive attributes, and also to simply share a good time with work colleagues.”

The event’s organiser, Corporate Games, indicated that if companies feel they have missed the deadline for the six-week league format, there will also be a second chance to register for a specific Grand Finals Day events.

A day, according to the Corporate Games’ CEO, that will be, “a thrilling spectacle of sporting competition, entertainment, medal ceremonies and fostering a unique community event for competitors and family and friends to cheer the athletes on."

All sports, except for the ten-pin bowling, will be held at the venues located in Dubai Sports City, including the ICC’s indoor cricket facility. The bowling competition will be held at the Dubai International Bowling Centre, in Al Mamzar.

Companies interested in entering their teams for the Grand Finals Day events can contact the organisers on: www.dcsportstour.com.

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