Thousands attend Dubai Walks

Thursday, Feb 07, 2013

Dubai: Thousands of people, mostly school children, participated in Dubai Pulse’s three kilometre long “Dubai Walks” held on Thursday at the Al Mamzar Beach in Dubai.

“Dubai Walks” is an initiative under the fourth edition of The Dubai Sports Council’s Dubai Pulse programme. Dubai Pulse was launched in 2009 to promote physical activity through a number of annual events.

Five of the participants were from Al Mamzar Centre for the Elderly. Saleh Al Abdouli, Head of the Customer Service Division of the Centre, said that their participation was to send out a message that “sport is very important for all ages and members of a society, and as long as a person is still able be active they should.”

Adel Al Banaei, Member of the organising committee of Dubai Pulse, said that the annual programme aims to “educate and raise awareness in society about physical activity and the importance of sports.”

He added, “We also want to convey that physical activity can be done anywhere and that there are facilities that the government has provided that people can use to be active, anywhere and anytime, to stay healthy.”

This year’s “Dubai Pulse Programme” has increased its activities to seven, with the first held on September 21, 2012 to the last one scheduled for April 5, 2013.

The programme includes various activities such as “Dubai Swims”, “Dubai Cycles” and “Dubai Runs”, that are at different locations across the emirate.

In addition to these seven main activities, residents are encouraged to join any of the daily activities that are being run at various public parks, open beaches, racecourses, fitness clubs and malls by specialised training personnel.

Samiksha Venkatesan, a grade nine student of St. Mary’s Catholic High School Dubai, said that there are 23 students representing their school and that they are all very excited to represent their school and raise awareness about fitness.

Richard Zulueta, Sports and Activity Coordinator at The Philippine School of Dubai, said 85 students from their school who participated were from grades seven, eight and nine. “In our school we focus on the development of our children’s skills through sports, and through such activities they can stay healthy too.” Zulueta said.

Around 10 members of the Mother’s Council Dubai International school’s Mother’s Council — Nad Al Sheba branch — joined their children at the event.

By Noorhan Barakat Staff Reporter