Ahmed Bin Dhabi Al Falasi Ahmed Al Ali, Abdullah Al Kaswani, Mohammed Al Omda and Yazbek Abdulmajid pose for a picture after the press conference.

Gulf Today, Sports Reporter

Following the stupendous success of its inaugural edition, UAE Storm Games returns with a bigger and more competitive version.

The second edition of the UAE Storm Games is scheduled to take place in Fujairah from January 20–21 under the patronage of Sheikh Mohammed Bin Hamad Bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Crown Prince of Fujairah.

The Emirates Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation and the organizing committee of the UAE Storm Games – Fujairah 2024 revealed the details and impressive line-up of athletes during the launch of the federation’s activities and championships for the new season.

The much-awaited UAE Storm Games will take place at the Al Bahar Hotel and Resort in Fujairah.

A press conference was held at the Emirates Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation headquarters in Dubai to announce the names of the players taking part in the UAE Storm Games.

Ahmed Bin Dhabi Al Falasi, a member of the Board of Directors of the Emirates Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation, Chairman of the Fitness Committee and head of the organizing committee, Ahmed Al Ali, tournament director,

Abdullah Al Kaswani, General Manager of the Genejack Company, Abdullah Al Kaswani, and Mohammed Al Omda addressed the media.

Falasi revealed that 180 athletes representing 44 countries, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Britain, America, Brazil, Spain, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Spain, Canada, Iraq, Mexico, France, Syria, Morocco, Canada, the Philippines, Australia, New Zealand, and others, will compete in the UAE Storm Games.

Falasi hailed the support and patronage of the Crown Prince of Fujairah for organizing the second edition of the tournament, stressing that its organization in Fujairah is a qualitative addition to the sport of fitness due to the emirate's distinctive infrastructure that supports sports tourism in the UAE and Fujairah and enhances the concepts of sustainable sports.

He also hailed Sheikh Abdullah, the chairman of the Emirates Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation, for his guidance and support.

Falasi emphasized the great benefits that this event will have for the fitness sport, including the promotion of fitness as a sport and an ideal lifestyle, as well as helping the national teams compete in international championships.

Ahmed Al Ali, tournament director, said that the organizing committee has approved a sum of Dhs265,000 as cash prizes that will be presented to the winners of the first places in the nine categories of the UAE Storm Games.

"The UAE Storm Games has attracted an impressive line-up of world-class athletes who will make this competition more competitive. "Among them, in the professional category for women, there are Jamie Symmonds (New Zealand), Tassia Dadda (Brazil), and Ivy Hollis (Britain).

“In the professional category for men, defending champion Luka Dukic from Serbia, Kalyan Souza from Brazil, and Italian Enrico Zenoni are among the big names who are in the fray.

“In the advanced category for women, the Egyptian Hana Mansy, the Irish Rachel Reddy, and the British Nikita Lord will take part.

“At the level of players and players in the advanced youth category, the Emirati Badr Al Noori, the Egyptian Asim Afif, and Saudi Arabia’s Raad Al Sharhani will bid for the title.

“In the amateur category for women, the Emirati Aisha Al Saadi, the Lebanese Sarah Fakhouri, and the Egyptian Saha Said will participate. In the amateur category, the Emiratis Rashid Al Ali, Ibrahim Al Shamsi, and Salem Al Shaar will participate,” added Ahmed.

In the masters +40 category, the Kuwaiti Mahdi Al Aoun, the Syrian Mahmoud Nasser, and the Jordanian Baraa Al Kilani will participate.