VIDEO: Dubai sports activities get a flying start
Athletes perform stunts with water jet packs near the Burj Khalifa in Dubai. AFP
Extensive participation was witnessed on the first day of the activities of Dubai Maritime Week, which is organized by Dubai International Marine Sports Club in cooperation with the Dubai Sports Council.
The three-day Dubai Water Sports Summer Week organised by the Club opened on Thursday evening with participants performing spectacular stunts on their Flyboards at Al Shurooq Beach in Jumeirah.
The Motosurf competition also provided some exciting action.
A visitor at the beach said, I am happy and excited to see the sport events are back on Dubai’s turf…”
Dubai Sports Council has been meeting with local and international sports federations, and event organisers to discuss organising of sports events in the coming months.
The Council has received official communication from a number of international sports federations, with request to host their events in Dubai as more and more host cities express their inability to host international sports events due to COVID-19 concerns.
The Council has been in regular touch with federations and sports event organisers, through virtual channels, to discuss procedures and safety protocols for organising sports competitions in accordance with the safety instructions of Dubai’s Supreme Committee for Crisis and Disaster Management, with the safety of everyone involved being of paramount importance.
Sports competitions restarted in the Emirate of Dubai last Friday with the Dubai Offshore Sailing Club’s Summer Series, which featured paddle boats, dinghy boats and yachts. This weekend, Dubai International Marine Club, in cooperation with Dubai Sports Council, has organised a "Dubai watersports Summer Week” that will see different competitions take place at various venues from June 25-27.
On Friday, fans of marine sports will witness a full day of competition at different venues. Two of the three events planned for the day - Kayak Fishing and Stand Up paddling - will be taking place for the first time in Dubai. Kayak Fishing, which is open to all, will be taking place at various venues around the city, starting from 7am until 6pm, while the Stand Up Paddling race will take place at Kite Beach from 7am. The third event of the day, Kitesurf, will take place at Nessnass Beach from 4:30pm.
On June 27, there will be a Modern Sailing competition for Laser 4.7 and Optimist, which is being organised in cooperation with Dubai Offshore Sailing Club. Competitions will start from 5pm.
The winners of the different competitions at the weekend will receive the special edition of commemorative medals that have been designed by Dubai Sports Council to honour heroes who were at the frontline of Dubai’s fight against COVID-19.
The medals pay homage to the selfless service of Dubai Police and Dubai Civil Defence through the COVID-19 crisis, alongside the staff of Dubai Health Authority, and the First Responders of Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services. Together, they were at the forefront of Dubai’s fight to contain the spread of the Coronavirus pandemic, alongside volunteers from different segments of Dubai’s diverse community.
The decision to resume sports competitions is part of a series of decisions taken by Dubai Sports Council in recent days to gradually reopen the sports sector following weeks of closure due to COVID-19. The decision is in line with the Government of Dubai’s plan to open all sectors of life in the Emirate, and complies with instructions issued by Dubai’s Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management, and related government agencies.
The winter sports sector in Dubai will be the next to reopen for competitions with a "Freestyle Ski and Snowboard Competition - Slopestyle and Big Air”, which is being organised by Ski Dubai in cooperation with Dubai Sports Council. The event is scheduled for July 31 at Ski Dubai, Mall of the Emirates.
