Dubai: Almost 10,000 women are expected to participate in Dubai Women’s Run 2017, which will promote women’s empowerment and elimination of violence against women, organisers said on Tuesday.
For the first time since its inception in 2010, the annual Dubai Women’s Run (DWR) championing an active and healthy lifestyle among women has introduced the Dubai Foundation for Women and Children (DFWAC) as the “Official Soul” of the run this year.
The association of the UAE Athletics Federation (UAEAF) and Plan b, the race organisers, with the DFWAC for the run highlights the event’s commitment to solidify the message of women empowerment in the UAE by adding traction to its annual ‘Elimination of Violence against Women/the Orange Campaign’, a press conference was told.
The DFWAC will organise an awareness activation session during the run on November 17 as a prelude to the 2018 edition of the Orange Campaign, said Mariam Bin Theniyah, communications director at DFWAC.
“Dubai Women’s Run is taking an important stand this year to uphold the nation’s agenda to put women empowerment at the forefront in addition to encouraging women to prioritise health and fitness,” said Ahmad Al Kamali, council member of the International Association of Athletics Federation and president of the UAE Athletics Federation.
Saeed Hareb, secretary-general of the Dubai Sports Council (DSC), said the event embodies the council’s goal to create a distinctive sports community, popularise the culture of exercise, physical activities and sports among women and establish a solid foundation among professionals and amateurs.
Harmeek Singh, founder and chairman of the Plan b Group, said: “This year, the event is determined to encourage health and fitness among girls and women of all ages in the UAE and beyond as well as send a strong message of solidarity for women’s empowerment with a special focus on sports.”
New venue, ambassadors
Marasi Business Bay will be the new venue for DWR that comprises of 10-kilometre and 5-kilometre running events, said Liesa A. Euton, race director.
Under the patronage of Shaikh Ahmad Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, chairman of the National Olympic Committee, the event will take place from 7am on November 17.
Kenyan long-distance track and road runner Tegla Loroupe will be one of the elite athletes participating in this year’s run.
The youngest Emirati rhythmic gymnast — six-year-old Lamia Tarek Malallah Al Farsi — amputee athlete, gym instructor and motivational speaker Dareen Barbar and dentist-turned-painter and philanthropist Sana Khan will be the female ambassadors of DWR-2017.
Joining the women of substance is Bollywood actor-cum-producer, fitness advocate, and activist Sonu Sood who will play the only male ambassador for the DWR-2017. Besides movies and fitness, the actor is a strong supporter of causes that enable women to rise above oppression and violence.
All the brand ambassadors were present at the press conference.
What: Dubai Women’s Run 2017
Where: Marasi Business Bay
When: From 7am on November 17
Entry fee: Dh150
Online registration deadline: November 12
Race packet pickup: November 15 and 16
Registration points:
DWR website — www.dubaiwomensrun.com
Liali Jewellery — women get a CharmsDay bracelet when signing up at any one of the Liali stores named on the DWR website
Lorna Jane — sign up at Town Centre Mall, Jumeirah or Dubai Ladies Club on Jumeirah Beach Road
