SHARJAH– The Khor Fakkan Amphitheatre, a subsidiary of the Sharjah Government Media Bureau (SGMB), and Spartan, the leading global brand famous for obstacle and endurance races and overcoming challenges in the world, are joining hands to organise the first “Spartan Khorfakkan 2023” Championship, with three races targeting various age groups and endurance levels, on 28th January, 2023.

The organisers have divided the competitions into three main races. The first race targets children between 4 and 14 years, and competitions will cover the distance from 800 to 3,200 metres.

The second challenge titled, "Sprint Race", takes place on a track full of barriers and obstacles and covers a distance of five kilometres.

The competition in the third category titled, “Super Race,” will see the contestants cover a distance of 10 kilometres. The races will start from the iconic Khor Fakkan Amphitheatre, the unmatched architectural masterpiece built on the Jebel Al Said, celebrating the best of Islamic and Roman architecture in its design.

Tariq Saeed Allay, Director-General of the SGMB, said the partnership between Khor Fakkan Amphitheatre and Spartan stems from Sharjah’s vision of building healthy societies whose members are aware of the importance of practising healthy sports by hosting such contests that give individuals and families, of all age groups and physical abilities, an exceptional sporting and wholesome touristic experience.

The challenges are multi-fold and exciting as they include scaling walls and overcoming barbed wire barriers to swinging with ropes and racing, he added.

Allay pointed out that ‘Spartan Khor Fakkan 2023" will encourage the community to embrace healthy lifestyles by taking part in various sports activities, and supporting the obstacle course races in the country. In addition to providing an attractive opportunity and platform for families to enjoy sporting events, the first-of-its-kind event in the region also encourages various segments of society to participate in sports, discover local talent and support them to represent the country and compete in hurdles and obstacles locally, regionally and internationally.

To prepare the contestants for the competitions, Spartan will also provide proactive training, in which certified fitness trainers provide advice on the importance of healthy nutrition and drinking water in the run-up to the races. The aim is to ensure good physical preparation for the contestants before the start of sports activities. These exercises will also educate the community about the basics of health and ways to maintain a healthy body.