Obstacles that await participants of Dubai's Gov Games

Dubai - The event will be held at the Kite Beach in Dubai on May 9-12.

New details about the obstacles that await more than 150 teams competing in the world's first Gov Games this week have been revealed. Full course details, however, remain under wraps "to ensure a level playing field for competing teams" who are vying to win prizes worth Dh2 million.

The event will be held at the Kite Beach in Dubai on May 9-12.

More than 35 tonnes of fabricated steel have been welded and shaped to form the 10 obstacles that make up the 40,000 square metre course. More than 840,000 litres of water have been used for the obstacles.

Teams will collectively have to carry around 75,000kg of weight and travel more than 1 million metres, as well as climb heights exceeding 75,000 metres. The unique obstacle course will be a true test for teams' mental and physical strength and agility.

Day one of the four-day competition will host the qualifying round for 66 women's teams who must tackle seven obstacles to make it to the final. Days two and three will host the qualifying rounds for 89 men's teams who will have to navigate nine obstacles.

The six top performing teams of the men's and women's qualifying rounds will progress to the final day, May 12, where they will face an obstacle called 'Storm'. Here they will have to push themselves and their teammates to perform and achieve more than they ever thought possible - climbing to heights of over eight meters and travelling more than 1.5km together as a unified team in just part of the formidable final obstacle set-up.

"The Gov Games course has been created and designed to the highest global standards taking into account health and safety regulations," organisers said.

The winning men's and women's team will each be presented with a special Gov Games cup and a team prize of Dh1 million, to be distributed equally between the participants.

The obstacles are sponsored by several government entities and private sector partners, including the Dubai Municipality, Dubai Land Department, Dubai Health Authority, Roads and Transport Authority, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority and Al Sankari Investments. reporters@khaleejtimes.com


The obstacles

Participating teams are gearing up for the Gov Games and the inventive course which will test their physical, mental, and teamwork capacities through various obstacles:

> Stabiliser: This obstacle will have teams deciding between zipping through individually or using a paced team-approach

> Burner: Team captains will face intense pressure to make the important decision of choosing the best team members to complete this challenge

> Iron grip: Teams will need to think collectively to find the best way to take on this obstacle. It's team vs. time in this one

> The wall: Teams will be faced with the decision of using speed or strength to cross this obstacle's barrier

> Guillotine: Team captains along with their teammates will have to use their initiative to complete the obstacle in a limited time

> Brain mania: Teams will have to choose between relying on the strongest person or the collective strength of the team for this obstacle

> Human ladder: Team members will have to create a human ladder that will test the balance between their agility and strength

> Below zero: This obstacle will test the teams' strength, determination and trust as they work together to make the right decision

> Muscle crusher: As the name suggests, this obstacle will put the team under physical and emotional stress and can only be overcome through harmony and team work

• UAE
• Dubai