Dubai: One of the top officials from the Dubai Fitness Championship has vowed to usher in a lifestyle revolution through the hosting of the annual event.

The preliminary rounds for the second edition of the Dubai Fitness Championship will get under way at various Fitness First Clubs in Dubai from Sunday, August 18, and event director Khalid Chookah has promised the annual contest will go a long way towards bettering the quality of living in the country.

“This year we are bigger and better and we are targeting a lifestyle revolution for the people living in Dubai and the UAE through this competition,” Chookah told Gulf News.

Held under the patronage of Shaikh Majid Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman, Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, this year’s competition will see the winners in the men’s and women’s categories walking away with Dh200,000 each.

Starting on Sunday, the qualifying rounds will be held at official partners Fitness First Clubs at Mirdif City Centre, Oasis Centre and Knowledge Village. In addition, participants can take part in free training sessions at Fitness First in The Meadows.

Launched by Shaikh Majid last year, the championship is aimed at raising the awareness of exercise and health, while promoting the tenets of fitness among residents, especially Emiratis.

The qualifying rounds of the championship will be held over a period of three weeks ending on September 8, leading up to the finals scheduled to be held at a specially set-up circuit on the Dubai Ice Rink at Dubai Mall from September 12 to 14.

“The objective of the Dubai Fitness Championship is to find the fittest man and woman in Dubai, and this has inspired the community to get involved and re-visit the importance of physical activity and healthy lifestyle for a productive living,” Chookah said.

As many as 36 contestants in each category will join the winners of the four qualifying rounds from last year in this year’s finals to stand a chance at having a crack at the total prize fund of nearly Dh1 million.

“Yet another addition to the championship this year is that participants will be allowed multiple attempts during qualifying so that each athlete has a better chance of improving their timings and making it to the finals,” Chookah disclosed.

Telephone operator du will be the main sponsor, while Dubai Sports Council will be the official partner of the event.

Registration can be done through website www.dxbfitness.com and entry fee has been set at Dhs80 per head.