Dubai: Plans are afoot to rope in celebrity footballers, cricketers, other leading sports personalities and social media influencers to encourage the participation of maximum people in the upcoming Dubai Fitness Challenge launched on Monday by Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai.
Running from October 20 to November 18, the challenge seeks to inspire Dubai’s citizens, residents and visitors to boost their physical activity by committing to a minimum of 30 minutes of daily activity for 30 days through a wide range of fitness workouts, sports or exercise. The campaign will push Dubai to be the most active city in the world.
The Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DCTCM) is one of the government departments that will be promoting the avenues and activities that can help people lead an active lifestyle in Dubai, Essam Kazim, CEO of DCTCM, told Gulf News on Tuesday.
He said the department will also rope in celebrities and social media influencers to campaign for the Fitness Challenge so that the message reaches out to every individual living and visiting the emirate.
“It is a community-wide initiative,” Kazim said.
“We have to make sure we have all Dubai people from the community … A lot of them are well recognised personalities. They will be sharing and pushing the message to their followers as well. At the same time … there are a lot of people who frequently visit Dubai including influencers and celebrities. We will be making sure that they also participate or at least appear at any of the events that take place in Dubai [during the challenge].”
When asked for the names of celebrities expected to promote the campaign, Kazim said: “As of yet, I don’t have specific names. But you will be seeing them more and more as we make announcements as we get closer to the date [of starting the challenge].”
Boost for the app
Dr Aisha Bint Butti Bin Bishr, director-general of the Smart Dubai Office (SDO), said the Dubai Fitness Challenge app will be incorporated in the Dubai Now application as well.
“We will be introducing an icon on to our Dubai Now application, allowing users to download the Dubai Fitness Challenge app,” she said in a statement issued on Tuesday.
Once the challenge begins, participants can track their performance, discover events, free workout classes and unlock exciting rewards on the app.
Bint Butti said SDO will also launch internal challengers “where our team members will take 30 minutes out of their day for 30 days to take part in the challenge, thus leading by example as we move to make Dubai the healthiest, most active and happiest city in the world.”
VOX POP: What do Dubai residents do to keep themselves fit
Hamnas K, Indian salesman in a hypermarket
I usually skip taking the company bus to work and walk down to the shop as it is not too far. At work, I am either standing or walking around. I can sit only during break time. I take the stairs when I go to other floors in the building. During my off days, I go for a walk and roam around in markets or malls.
Alissa Paille, Indonesian recruiter
I think it is about just eating the right food and being active. As long as I have time, I go up and down the house. I don’t depend too much on my maid. I do a lot of gardening. I don’t eat sweet. In the mornings, I eat boiled eggs and I have vegetables, fruits and soups for other meals.
Salma Rashad, Egyptian homemaker-cum-artist
I finish most of my cooking at night and leave home soon after my husband leaves with kids. I go to any mall, do shopping and walk. I don’t like going to a gym. In the mall, I can see people when I walk. That is a nice thing. Then I will pick my kids and go back home. I don’t stay at home and do nothing.
Senaka Jayagoda, Sri Lankan technician
Earlier, I used to go to the gym regularly. But nowadays I have not been able to do that. For my fitness, I mainly give due attention to my food since I work in a hotel and have food from there. I am a vegetarian and I don’t eat fatty or sugary food. I am also pretty active at the hotel.
