End of Dubai Fitness Challenge heralds a new beginning

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End of Dubai Fitness Challenge heralds a new beginning
People exercise on the last day of the Dubai Fitness Challenge, at Festival City. - KT photo by Dhes Handumon

Dubai - Sheikh Hamdan wishes to see Dubai become the most physically active place in the world

By Sarwat Nasir & Dhanusha Gokulan

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Published: Sun 19 Nov 2017, 7:54 PM

Let's not stop here but keep the momentum going on: This is the resolution thousands of residents, who turned up for the closing ceremony of the 30x30 Dubai Fitness Challenge, now keep so dear to their heart.
When Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, made a challenge before the residents (who were considered not-so-enthusiastic about a routine workout) very few expected it will galvanise the Dubai residents at this proportion.
For 30 days, residents have sweated it out for 30 minutes every day, not as a challenge the Dubai Crown Prince has thrown to them, but their duty to adopt fitness as a lifestyle. The Crown Prince's challenge ended on Saturday, but the journey towards a healthy lifestyle should and will continue.
Issam Kazim, CEO of the Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM), told Khaleej Times that he is "inspired" by the support residents gave to the Dubai Fitness Challenge.
The closing ceremony of the challenge was held at Dubai Festival City this weekend, with thousands of people that turned up for fitness-related activities. Boxing superstar Anthony Joshua was present yesterday and lead an energetic workout session.
"I have been truly inspired by the thousands of people who have wholeheartedly got behind the Dubai Fitness Challenge and committed to 30 minutes of activity for 30 days. Having attended many of the huge range of events and activities, I have seen first-hand the commitment of the citizens, residents, government organisations, schools and businesses who've got behind it and brought this incredible initiative to life," Kazim said.
"The celebrations at Dubai Festival City this weekend is in honour of all the participants who achieved their #Dubai30x30 goals and I would like to extend my congratulations to them all. While the challenge may now be over, the focus on a healthy lifestyle lives on and we encourage everyone to keep going and help continue our journey to make Dubai the most active city in the world."
Will it be an annual event?
It is unclear whether the Dubai Fitness Challenge will become an annual event, however, the secretary-general of the Dubai Sports Council, Saeed Hareb, believes that the finishing of the fitness challenge month doesn't mean that it's the end.
"The Dubai Fitness Challenge has certainly achieved its lofty goals, but this is not the end. Sheikh Hamdan wishes to see Dubai become the most physically active place in the world, so the challenge is still on, especially for us at the Dubai Sports Council, because our collective goal is to see Dubai become a land of health, happiness and verve," Hareb had told Khaleej Times.
And residents have thrown their weight behind making the initiative an annual affair.
Ruth MBiyu from Kenya said: "I think the activity is a lot of fun, and I am hoping that they make it an annual event. It's great that there is so much awareness about fitness in general now as well."
Anandita Mudaliar from India said the challenge has made her a "lot more health conscious". "I think this is how it benefitted most people. I would really like to see the challenge happen on an annual basis, making Dubai the fittest city in the world."
A range of activities were organised for fitness enthusiasts during the closing ceremony yesterday, including intense group work-out sessions. Prizes were also being given away to residents, ranging from hotel stays to massages. There was a yoga, basketball, football, hockey, gymnastics and cycling schedules available for residents.
Fireworks and a water colour show at Dubai Festival City concluded the Dubai Fitness Challenge.
When Sheikh Hamdan, launched the 30X30 fitness challenge, he made sure that residents had enough resources and events to take up the challenge. And now it is up to them to carry on a healthy lifestyle.
sarwat@khaleejtimes.com


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