DUBAI // While the summer temperatures continue to rise across the UAE, there was plenty of sporting action on display indoors in the air-conditioned confines of the Dubai World Trade Centre on Sunday as the fifth staging of Dubai Sports World (DSW) began.
The 10-week schedule of sporting action is expected to attract a high number of participants to take part in activities such as football, rugby sevens, tennis, basketball, cricket and several fitness-related activities, which will include events on a 400-metre running track.
Saeed Harib, secretary general of the Dubai Sports Council, said the organisers were encouraged by the number of participants involved and showcased Dubai’s ability to function as a venue for sport in both summer and winter.
“The number of the participants, figures which we have this year, show there is more than hundreds and thousands of participants, and I think this is a big growth,” he said as organisers expect this year’s DSW to pass last year’s record of 175,081 for attendance through August 29.
As to the secret of successfully organising sports events all year round, Harib said: “I think the good answer is that Dubai in the summer or in the winter is a sports city.”
The event is also a chance for other sports to increase their profile in the UAE to encourage more people to take part.
Thomas Lund, the secretary of the Badminton World Federation, was among the guests at the opening day on Sunday.
Badminton is one of the sports represented, with Shuttle Time Dubai, the development programme for the sport in the UAE, arranging for six courts to be available for newcomers or experienced players to play.
Lund said events such as DSW can help encourage people to take part in badminton, either socially or in a more competitive capacity.
“The badminton sports in the UAE is growing within and it is something you don’t notice day to day,” he said.
Lund said word of mouth among people who had tried their hand at badminton when given the opportunity was helping to promote a real community of players in the country.
“There were not many players in the last two years. Now it is seeing 400 participants, so it has grown a lot,” he said.
Lund, who has been a regular attendee at previous stagings of DSW, said he continues to be impressed with the scale of the event.
“There are two things to say: first, the venue this year is even better than I’ve seen from last year, and from the last two years it is amazing how it has grown, it is even more surprising,” he said.
“I mean, there are new sports, new hype and fancy things have come in.
“But when I look at the badminton set up, I mean there is a lot of difference, with a well-organised set-up but, most importantly and the most positive thing, is that it is full of players.”
Getting more Emiratis on the court is Lund’s main objective.
“If they don’t participate, we won’t be representing a real UAE or a real Dubai,” he said. “It is all about bringing people to participate for this sport.”
malshamsi@thenational.ae
Follow us on Twitter at @NatSportUAE
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About Takalam
Date started: early 2020
Founders: Khawla Hammad and Inas Abu Shashieh
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: HealthTech and wellness
Number of staff: 4
Funding to date: Bootstrapped
Four-day collections of TOH
Day Indian Rs (Dh)
Thursday 500.75 million (25.23m)
Friday 280.25m (14.12m)
Saturday 220.75m (11.21m)
Sunday 170.25m (8.58m)
Total 1.19bn (59.15m)
(Figures in millions, approximate)
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
Greatest of All Time
Starring: Vijay, Sneha, Prashanth, Prabhu Deva, Mohan
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Ship name: MSC Bellissima
Ship class: Meraviglia Class
Delivery date: February 27, 2019
Gross tonnage: 171,598 GT
Passenger capacity: 5,686
Crew members: 1,536
Number of cabins: 2,217
Length: 315.3 metres
Maximum speed: 22.7 knots (42kph)
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Under 19 World Cup
Group A: India, Japan, New Zealand, Sri Lanka
Group B: Australia, England, Nigeria, West Indies
Group C: Bangladesh, Pakistan, Scotland, Zimbabwe
Group D: Afghanistan, Canada, South Africa, UAE
UAE fixtures
Saturday, January 18, v Canada
Wednesday, January 22, v Afghanistan
Saturday, January 25, v South Africa
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The specs
Engine: 2-litre or 3-litre 4Motion all-wheel-drive Power: 250Nm (2-litre); 340 (3-litre) Torque: 450Nm Transmission: 8-speed automatic Starting price: From Dh212,000 On sale: Now
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets