DUBAI With summer fast approaching and sporting activities becoming a near impossible thing outdoors, sports fanatics hunt for indoor options. It’s an easy choice as the Dubai Sports World (DSW), Middle East’s largest indoor sporting venue, is all set to welcome people with a lot more new attractions.
Celebrating its fifth year, the venue at the Dubai World Trade centre will be open from June 21 to August 29. “Some of the new features one can anticipate this year include a dedicated fitness studio for group classes in the gym area. In our free-to-enter Entertainment Zone we will double our basketball and tennis courts to four basketball and two tennis courts and include 12 ping pong tables. A special ‘activation area’ has been earmarked for one-off events. The popular running track has been remodelled into an uninterrupted, Olympic length 400 metre loop,” said Ahmed Alkhaja, senior vice president – Venues, DWTC.
Designed for serious athletes and sporting novices of all ages, the multi-purpose venue has more than 22,000 square metres of air-conditioned indoor space.
Increase
“Historically, DSW had a record of 175,081 sports fans pass through the venue’s doors last year,” said Alkhaja on the expected number of people. “We have witnessed a 43.5 per cent increase compared to 2013 footfall and we are sure to see this number increase this year as well,” said Alkhaja.
Giving special attention to kids and encouraging them to lead a healthy lifestyle, he said: “In the past five years DSW has focused on training kids to be the next generation sports athletes. We ensure to provide a safe, affordable and indoor facility for grassroots sports programmes for children of all ages. Additionally, we thank the Dubai Sports Council for working tirelessly with Dubai World Trade Centre to encourage all members of society from different nationalities to exercise regularly.
“Our aim is to promote an active life and to improve overall health, happiness and productivity. This year’s venue will roll-out its largest and most diverse roster of summer camps products to date to mark the fifth anniversary.
“Run by leading institutions from across the UAE and around the world, this year’s line-up includes football and basketball by IFA Academy, tennis by Tennis 360, skateboarding and BMX biking by RAGE, cricket by G-Force Cricket and many more to be announced in the coming months,” he added.
Saeed Mohamed Harib, general secretary, Dubai Sports Council, said: “For five consecutive years, our partnership with Dubai World Trade Centre and DSW has helped us achieve our goals by providing a fantastic platform for people to practice all kinds of sports and physical activities during summer.”
