Thousands of people will have taken part in carrying a baton along its almost 8,000-kilometre relay through 18 countries from Glasgow, which hosted Cop26, to Cop27 host Sharm El Sheikh by the time it arrives for the summit in early November.
But organisers of the Running Out of Time relay to raise climate change awareness say people are literally running out of time to take part and there are still spaces open for the 275-kilometre Egypt segment.
Only eight people have registered so far for the 27 stages in the Sinai Peninsula that start at the Taba border crossing with Israel and end in Sharm El Sheikh, the site of the UN climate summit that is set to begin on November 6.
Running Out of Time’s operations director Hetty Key said she is not concerned and that “by and large, we see sign-ups fairly close to the event”.
Participants can run, cycle or sail in their stage, with the minimum number of people per stage being one and the maximum 25.
The organisers have dealt with many logistical challenges during the non-stop relay that started on September 30 — from “last-minute drop-outs at 1 am” to navigating a glacier crossing in the Alps.
“It is never a dull day,” Ms Key said.
On November 4, the baton will cross the Israeli-Egyptian border, which organisers have co-ordinated carefully “to make sure there aren’t any issues” and that “we have everything in place”, she said.
Sinai desert run
The main challenges in the Egyptian section of the race are the heat and remoteness of Sinai, a sparsely populated desert region with few roads and barren mountains.
The relay will pass through small fishing towns along the Red Sea’s Gulf of Aqaba. The only places that attract some tourists are Dahab and, to a lesser extent, Nuweiba and Taba further north.
After finding out about the relay through Running Out of Time’s Twitter account, James Scanlan, an Arabic-English translator, registered for three stages of the race and will complete 27km near Dahab on the morning of November 5.
“I loved the idea and I love running, [especially in] support of alternative, human-powered means of travel”, Mr Scanlan told The National.
Mr Scanlan lived in Cairo in 2017 and worked for the American University in Cairo Press before deciding to relocate to Dahab with his Egyptian wife.
“We moved out of Cairo to Dahab to be in nature, by the sea, by mountains,” said Mr Scanlan, 31.
He is an avid long-distance runner who has completed marathons and ultra-marathons. A few years ago, he decided to walk from Morocco to the UK over the course of six months.
In 2018, he and his wife walked a total of around 100km from Cairo to Tanta along the Alexandria railway line.
Last year, they walked more than 130km from Cairo to Mansoura as they followed the Damietta branch of the Nile Delta.
He applauds the effort to raise environmental awareness and believes “change does come from activism”.
Caroline Ouko, a senior climate research scientist and training co-ordinator from Kenya, signed up for a 9km stage in Sharm El Sheikh.
Her focus at Cop27 is on the theme of Ace, or Action for Climate Empowerment, which covers education, training, public awareness, public access to information, public participation and international co-operation.
“That is why I joined [the relay] because it is calling for climate action,” said Ms Ouko, 49.
She attended her first Cop summit in Kenya in 2005 as a student and went to Glasgow’s Cop26 last year.
Quoting Kenyan Nobel laureate Wangari Maathai, she said “we should always be like a hummingbird” to make a difference in climate change.
Ms Maathai told a story of a forest consumed by fire as the animals watched helplessly, except for a hummingbird that filled its small beak with water and went back and forth trying to put out the flames.
“Whatever little we can do will add up somehow,” Ms Ouko said. “You take action, you address an issue. And if we are a critical mass, then we will make a difference.”
The Egypt Green Building Council will also be holding side events along the relay route to talk about its projects, the built environment and climate change action people can take.
The non-profit organisation was founded in 2012 and is an emerging member of the World Green Building Council, a global network that aims to establish green buildings around the world and bring about change.
For the grand finale that runs along the Naama Bay walk in Sharm El Sheikh on the evening of November 5, Ms Key said they are considering ideas to make it an “incredibly special moment” while taking into account security clearances and other considerations.
It is then that the baton's message — which would have been taken over glaciers, mountains and deserts — will be shared with climate leaders.
“We want to make sure that we are, despite the remoteness and the challenges, really celebrating what [the relay participants] have been doing,” Ms Key said.
SERIE A FIXTURES
Saturday (All UAE kick-off times)
Lecce v SPAL (6pm)
Bologna v Genoa (9pm)
Atlanta v Roma (11.45pm)
Sunday
Udinese v Hellas Verona (3.30pm)
Juventus v Brescia (6pm)
Sampdoria v Fiorentina (6pm)
Sassuolo v Parma (6pm)
Cagliari v Napoli (9pm)
Lazio v Inter Milan (11.45pm)
Monday
AC Milan v Torino (11.45pm)
SERIES SCHEDULE
First Test, Galle International Stadium
July 26-30
Second Test, Sinhalese Sports Club Ground
August 3-7
Third Test, Pallekele International Stadium
August 12-16
First ODI, Rangiri Dambulla Stadium
August 20
Second ODI, Pallekele International Stadium
August 24
Third ODI, Pallekele International Stadium
August 27
Fourth ODI, R Premadasa Stadium
August 31
Fifth ODI, R Premadasa Stadium
September 3
T20, R Premadasa Stadium
September 6
'The Lost Daughter'
Director: Maggie Gyllenhaal
Starring: Olivia Colman, Jessie Buckley, Dakota Johnson
Rating: 4/5
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
Third Test
Day 3, stumps
India 443-7 (d) & 54-5 (27 ov)
Australia 151
India lead by 346 runs with 5 wickets remaining
MORE ON TURKEY'S SYRIA OFFENCE
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Mission%3A%20Impossible%20-%20Dead%20Reckoning%20Part%20One
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Christopher%20McQuarrie%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Tom%20Cruise%2C%20Hayley%20Atwell%2C%20Pom%20Klementieff%2C%20Simon%20Pegg%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Quarter-finals
Saturday (all times UAE)
England v Australia, 11.15am
New Zealand v Ireland, 2.15pm
Sunday
Wales v France, 11.15am
Japan v South Africa, 2.15pm
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League quarter-final, second leg (first-leg score)
Porto (0) v Liverpool (2), Wednesday, 11pm UAE
Match is on BeIN Sports
Results
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 1,600m; Winner: Aahid Al Khalediah II, Pat Cosgrave (jockey), Helal Al Alawi (trainer)
5.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: Whistle, Harry Bentley, Abdallah Al Hammadi
6pm: Wathba Stallions Cup - Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Alsaied, Szczepan Mazur, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami
6.30pm: Emirates Fillies Classic – Prestige (PA) Dh100,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Mumayaza, Antonio Fresu, Eric Lemartinel
7pm: Emirates Colts Classic – Prestige (PA) Dh100,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Hameem, Adrie de Vries, Abdallah Al Hammadi
7.30pm: President’s Cup – Group 1 (PA) Dh2,500,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: Somoud, Richard Mullen, Jean de Roualle
8pm: President’s Cup – Listed (TB) Dh380,000 (T) 1,400m; Winner: Medahim, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar
if you go
The flights
Etihad, Emirates and Singapore Airlines fly direct from the UAE to Singapore from Dh2,265 return including taxes. The flight takes about 7 hours.
The hotel
Rooms at the M Social Singapore cost from SG $179 (Dh488) per night including taxes.
The tour
Makan Makan Walking group tours costs from SG $90 (Dh245) per person for about three hours. Tailor-made tours can be arranged. For details go to www.woknstroll.com.sg
Mrs%20Chatterjee%20Vs%20Norway
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Ashima%20Chibber%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Rani%20Mukerji%2C%20Anirban%20Bhattacharya%20and%20Jim%20Sarbh%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
What can you do?
Document everything immediately; including dates, times, locations and witnesses
Seek professional advice from a legal expert
You can report an incident to HR or an immediate supervisor
You can use the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation’s dedicated hotline
In criminal cases, you can contact the police for additional support
Quick%20facts
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T20 World Cup Qualifier A, Muscat
Friday, February 18: 10am - Oman v Nepal, Canada v Philippines; 2pm - Ireland v UAE, Germany v Bahrain
Saturday, February 19: 10am - Oman v Canada, Nepal v Philippines; 2pm - UAE v Germany, Ireland v Bahrain
Monday, February 21: 10am - Ireland v Germany, UAE v Bahrain; 2pm - Nepal v Canada, Oman v Philippines
Tuesday, February 22: 2pm – semi-finals
Thursday, February 24: 2pm – final
UAE squad: Ahmed Raza (captain), Muhammad Waseem, Chirag Suri, Vriitya Aravind, Rohan Mustafa, Kashif Daud, Zahoor Khan, Alishan Sharafu, Raja Akifullah, Karthik Meiyappan, Junaid Siddique, Basil Hameed, Zafar Farid, Mohammed Boota, Mohammed Usman, Rahul Bhatia
All matches to be streamed live on icc.tv
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
The Bio
Favourite holiday destination: Either Kazakhstan or Montenegro. I’ve been involved in events in both countries and they are just stunning.
Favourite book: I am a huge of Robin Cook’s medical thrillers, which I suppose is quite apt right now. My mother introduced me to them back home in New Zealand.
Favourite film or television programme: Forrest Gump is my favourite film, that’s never been up for debate. I love watching repeats of Mash as well.
Inspiration: My late father moulded me into the man I am today. I would also say disappointment and sadness are great motivators. There are times when events have brought me to my knees but it has also made me determined not to let them get the better of me.
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
RACE CARD
6.30pm: Madjani Stakes Group 2 (PA) Dh97,500 (Dirt) 1,900m
7.05pm: Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (D) 1,400m
7.40pm: Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (D) 1,600m
8.15pm: Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (D) 2,200m
8.50pm: Dubai Creek Mile Listed (TB) Dh132,500 (D) 1,600m
9.25pm: Conditions (TB) Dh120,000 (D) 1,900m
10pm: Handicap (TB) Dh92,500 (D) 1,400m
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
Top goalscorers in Europe
34 goals - Robert Lewandowski (68 points)
34 - Ciro Immobile (68)
31 - Cristiano Ronaldo (62)
28 - Timo Werner (56)
25 - Lionel Messi (50)
*29 - Erling Haaland (50)
23 - Romelu Lukaku (46)
23 - Jamie Vardy (46)
*NOTE: Haaland's goals for Salzburg count for 1.5 points per goal. Goals for Dortmund count for two points per goal.
ILT20%20UAE%20stars
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