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Going Out: At Middle East Touch Championships, it's all gain and no pain
More than 40 teams from the Middle East and beyond are set to feature at the Middle East Touch Championships 2015 which will be taking place in Abu Dhabi next month.
Teams from the UAE, as well as Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, India and Sri Lanka, will descend on Al Ghazal Golf Club for the two-day competition, which takes place from October 22-23.
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Looking to get back into shape over the cooler months after an indulgent summer? Then the Middle East Touch Championships is the event for you, whether male or female, young or old, whether you simply want to have some fun or are planning to be a future star – everyone is welcome to participate.
Two former international rugby league stars, Scott Prince and Apollo Perelini – who represented Australia and Samoa respectively – will also be on-hand to provide expert tuition for younger fans of the game in a dedicated Daman Kids’ Skills Clinic.
The game of touch is a combination of rugby league, union and basketball, minus the tackles and hard knocks of traditional rugby.
Touch continues to grow in popularity in the UAE thanks to its social and fitness credentials.
With an estimated 610 calories burned per hour and covering an approximate distance of more than 3,000 metres per 20-minute fixture, it’s easy to see why more and more people are turning to the sport.
John Larkins of Middle East Touch, said: “The Middle East has really taken to touch. Teams from the region participated in the Touch World Cup in Australia back in April and only last month many attended the European National Championships in the UK.
“It’s highly inclusive and as a result uptake is growing fast, particularly within schools – more than 40 schools across the region are taking part in touch programmes throughout 2015-2016, which is fantastic news.
“This year’s championships highlights just why touch is such a great, community-driven sport and has so much to offer.”
Larkins believes that skills learnt playing touch are transferable to any other sport you play too, with Larkins encouraging UAE residents to get involved.
“That’s what makes touch so great because all the skills involved in the game are easily transferable to other sports. And that is why this year we have teamed up with a variety of sports clubs, offering spectators on the day the chance to try their hand at activities such as basketball, netball, football and Jiu Jitsu.”
What: Middle East Touch Championships
When: October 22-23
Where: Al Ghazal Golf Club
Contact: For more information and to register a team, contact victoria@corporateaffair-me.com or visit www.MiddleEastTouchChamps.me
