Yahoo News 
Search starts for UAE's Strongest Athlete
If you’re someone who spends time building your strength, and feel you can flip a tyre or throw a heavy ball (as much as 20kg and size of a football) over head, then you may want to take part in the UAE’s Strongest Athlete competition this weekend.
Taking place at Ahdaaf Sports Club in Dubai on Friday and Saturday, the competition is open to amateurs and professionals of all levels between 15 and 45 years of age.
Each competitor will be placed in different categories based on their weight and gender: Under 90kg and over 90kg (males), and under 60kg and over 60kg (females) with 50 athletes in each category.
The two-day event begins with the qualifying round on Friday from 14:45 (males under 90kg and females under 60kg), while the males (over 90kg) and females (over 60kg) begin their categories at 18:15. The category finals take place on the final day on Saturday from 12:00.
Competitors will face a range of tasks including pushing and pulling heavy loads (cars or trucks), flipping tyres, carrying heavy equipment over a certain distance, and even a game of tug of war.
They are all part of the physical challenges that aim to promote the benefits of strength training.
If you triumph, not only will you be crowned as the ‘UAE’s Strongest Athlete’ for 2014 in your respected category, but you will also be awarded with Dh2,000 cash prize.
“Our mission with the strongman event is not only to find the strongest athlete in the UAE, but also to promote the benefits of strength training on health and well-being among the region,” says Nicolas St-Maurice who is strength coach, organiser and head of Strongman Events at FAST – the Dubai-based strength and conditioning performance centre for amateur and professional athletes.
With the aim of reaching out to the public on the competition, the event is free entry to the public with organisers encouraging people of different ages to attend.
“We want to attract and invite as many people to the event and see the action live,” says Riham Aboura, FAST media officer.
“It’s not just for those interested in health and fitness.
“There will be children’s entertainment including table tennis and football tables to keep them occupied as well as food stalls.”
Aboura says the main message the organisers want to send out is to promote health and fitness.
“There will be some free demonstrations showcasing the benefits of health and fitness and we want to make it clear that health and fitness is not just aimed at a certain level of people,” she says.
Entry costs Dh150 and you can either email info@ trainwithfast.com or sign up on the day during the registration session from 14:00 to 14:30 (males under 90kg and females under 60kg).
For those who want to compete in the over 90kg (males) and over 60kg (females) categories, then registration is open from 17:30 to 18:00.
“Registration will continue to be open until the day of the event,” said Aboura.
“Anyone can come in and sign up on the day. We want many competitors to come and experience the event in Dubai.”
WHAT: UAE’s Strongest Athlete.
WHEN: Friday and Saturday from 14:45.
WHERE: Ahdaaf Sports Club, Dubai.
Sport360° VERDICT: The search the UAE’s strongest athlete will be exhilarating to watch, especially as admission is free. Who knows, maybe you will get a taste of fitness.
CONTACT: Email info@trainwithfast.com
