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Kobe Bryant's celeb team ready for Dubai showdown

Kobe Bryant's celeb team ready for Dubai showdown

The UAE has scarcely welcomed a bigger name onto its shores. Kobe Bryant has been the name off everybody’s lips this week as he begins his Health and Fitness Weekend where the NBA legend plans on promoting diabetes awareness.

As a superstar who has managed to extend his career thanks to an improved diet and dedicated exercise regime, Bryant is the perfect role model for healthy living.

The UAE has a severe diabetes problem with the organisers DMCC claiming that 20 per cent of the population suffer from it, and that many go undiagnosed. Though the disease is extremely serious, it can be easily managed simply by improving your diet and increasing exercise.

Bryant touched down in Dubai on Wednesday and spoke about how diabetes has affected his life. “My grandfathers were affected by diabetes,” said the 35-year-old. “I didn’t really understand the complexities of it. The more I look back, the more I can understand everything they had to put up with.

“Growing up, your metabolism is so quick that it doesn’t affect your performance. The harder part about getting older is not training. The hardest part is changing your diet, you are used to eating junk food all your life, now there’s a struggle and a determination to eat healthy for the first time. I made the change three years ago. I became competitive for performance.”

Bryant is a five-time NBA champion, who began playing basketball in his teens and went on to set a number of records.

He is a youth icon the world over and his endorsement of the health and fitness message on his first-ever trip to the Gulf region has received an overwhelming reception.

A celebrity team coached by Kobe Bryant and featuring the likes of Soulaj Boy and Kris Fade will take on the Real Madrid basketball legends at the American University in Dubai in what’s sure to be an action-packed afternoon.

SCHEDULE FOR CELEBRITY GAME

2:00pm – Doors open
3:00pm - Pre-game reception for courtside and royal box ticket holders with Kobe Bryant and the celebrity game players.
4:25pm - Warm up amd stretch with threetime USA NPC champion Rachel Omolewu
4:45pm - Tip-off for first half by US ambassador to the UAE, Michael Corbin.
5:30pm - Half-time show with Kobe Bryant selecting members of the audience to participate in game and Soulja Boy (right) performing his famous “Crank That” dance.
6pm - Tip-off for second half by Spain’s ambassador to the UAE, Jose Eugenio Salarich
6:45pm - Slam dunk competition judged by Kobe Bryant
7:30pm - Autograph signing by Real Madrid basketball legends for courtside, royal box and VIP ticket holders.

Tickets for the celebrity game are being snapped up by basketball fans who are eager to watch the first celebrity game ever played here. Tickets are available in store at Virgin Megastores and online at www.timeouttickets.com.

Prices are as follows:

Upper level – Dh250
Upper level premier – Dh495 (SOLD OUT)
VIP – Dh795. Comes with access to the postgame autograph signing session with the Real Madrid basketball legends team
Royal Box – Dh3,500 (SOLD OUT)
Courtside – Dh5,000 – Ticket includes access to the pre-game reception attended by Bryant and the celebrity game players, and access to the post-game autograph signing session by the Real Madrid legends.

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