Over 750 to compete at Dubai Open for Gymnastics Academies Championship

Dubai is set to host one of the region's largest specialized gymnastics competitions as the Dubai Open for Gymnastics Academies Championship will kick off from May 23-25.

The event is organised by Stamina11 Center in collaboration with the Dubai Sports Council (DSC).

The championship, taking place at the Stamina11 Center in Dubai Studio City, will feature more than 750 athletes representing over 16 specialised academies, along with participating clubs from Kuwait, Qatar, and Kenya, reflecting the regional and international interest in this sporting event.

A prominent global gymnastics star, Olympic champion Victoria Listunova, gold medalist at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and three-time European Games champion will grace the championship.

The event will also feature Sherine El-Zeiny, an Egyptian artistic gymnast who has qualified for the Olympic Games three times.

Farah Shawer, Founder & CEO of Stamina11 Center stated: "We are proud to host this major sporting event that brings together elite young talents in gymnastics, and we look forward to delivering an exceptional championship befitting Dubai's status as a global sports destination.

“We value the tremendous support provided by the Dubai Sports Council in making this championship successful and achieving its goals of promoting and developing gymnastics culture in the region."

The championship will commence on Friday, with a spectacular opening ceremony at 3pm, during which Olympic champion Listunova will present a demonstration performance, along with a performance by El-Zeiny and a welcome show organised by the young athletic children. Level 2 competitions will then begin from 3:30pm until 10pm.

Competitions will continue on Saturday, May 24, with Level 1 and Level 3 competitions running from 8:30am until 8pm, while the championship concludes on Sunday, with higher-level competitions (Levels 4, 5, and 6) from 8:30am until 3:30pm.

The championship features diverse age groups of participants, including athletes between 5 and 15 years of age, providing an opportunity to discover promising talents across various age groups and refine their skills in this sport, which is gaining increasing interest in the UAE and the region.

The organization of this championship comes within the framework of the Dubai Sports Council's continuous efforts to enhance Dubai's position as a global sports destination and support various sports, including gymnastics, which has witnessed increasing interest from youth and juniors in recent years.

The DSC is keen to develop partnerships with the private sector. Organising this championship contributes to supporting the diversity of sports and enriching the list of rich sporting events hosted by Dubai throughout the world.

It also invests in the talents and efforts of gymnastics clubs and academies, providing them with a platform to compete in an inspiring environment.

This highlights their role in promoting artistic gymnastics, encouraging sports and physical activity, and contributing to a more vibrant and active society.