A dedicated Dubai father and son have completed an epic challenge to cycle 100km for 30 consecutive days to highlight the need for a more inclusive society.
Briton Nick Watson, 53, and his son Rio, 20, who has a rare chromosome disorder that affects his motor skills, covered a remarkable 3,075km around the cycle tracks of Al Qudra in Dubai in June.
Nick Watson pedalled a specially adapted 35kg bike, with Rio Watson in an accessible seat at the front.
They named the challenge RideWithRio.
They spent more than 130 hours on the road, covering the same distance as cycling from Dubai to Istanbul, climbing the equivalent height of Mount Everest and consuming a staggering 55,000 calories.
The energy-sapping trek was organised by Team AngelWolf, a licensed non-profit foundation founded by the Watson family, including Nick's wife Delphine and daughter Tia, 16, who is also a triathlete.
The family moved to the UAE 25 years ago and set up Team AngelWolf to promote inclusivity through the concept of “inclusive impactivity”.
Speaking to The National, Nick Watson said the challenge pushed their limits.
“The consecutive days during June always takes its toll because of the weather. We started early to beat the heat. That was a massive priority, especially for Rio,” said Nick Watson.
“Every day, we would wake up at 2.15am and be on the bike by 3am. Rio absolutely loved it. Most of the days, he was up before I did.”
Nick Watson said they biked four and a half hours every day to cover their daily 100km target.
The father said they would not have completed the challenge if his son's health was compromised.
Rio Watson has a chromosome disorder known as 1q44 deletion denovo that affects his motor skills.
“Rio is susceptible to seizures,” Nick Watson said.
“His health is top priority, which means I am checking on him throughout the ride. He has zero stress when we are on the bike. It is exactly the opposite.
“When we are moving, he is stimulated by what we do. He is safe, happy and content.”
Team AngelWolf has been participating in cycling, running and swimming challenges for 10 years.
Harnessing the power of sport
The father and son team took part in a 50km ultra marathon in 2021, to mark the UAE’s 50th anniversary. Siblings Rio and Tia Watson shot to fame when Sheikh Hamdan, Crown Prince of Dubai, pushed Rio’s running chair during the 2021 Dubai Run organised during the Dubai Fitness Challenge.
“We have so far done 500 races and covered almost 14,000km,” Nick Watson said.
“Sports is a lovely way to break down barriers and we are trying to promote the message of inclusivity by what we do.
“Sometimes families with children with disabilities feel a bit segregated. We want to encourage others to take part in these challenges or even go for a walk with their children, and feel accepted and included in the community.”
The RideWithRio challenge is part of a broader programme by Team AngelWolf called the “WolfPack Impact Talks”.
These talks, conducted Nick Watson and Tia, aim to promote inclusion within the community, and the cost of which is entirely covered by sponsorships.
Nick Watson's motivational talk shares the inspiring story of Rio and how Team AngelWolf was founded, the importance of overcoming attitudinal, social and physical barriers, and their role in opening doors to inclusion in sports and community events.
Tia, on the other hand, tailors her talk for younger students, discussing her journey as an inclusive athlete, her role as a caregiver and sister, and her Guinness World Record attempt with Rio.
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GROUP RESULTS
Group A
Results
Ireland beat UAE by 226 runs
West Indies beat Netherlands by 54 runs
Group B
Results
Zimbabwe tied with Scotland
Nepal beat Hong Kong by five wickets
Nepotism is the name of the game
Salman Khan’s father, Salim Khan, is one of Bollywood’s most legendary screenwriters. Through his partnership with co-writer Javed Akhtar, Salim is credited with having paved the path for the Indian film industry’s blockbuster format in the 1970s. Something his son now rules the roost of. More importantly, the Salim-Javed duo also created the persona of the “angry young man” for Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan in the 1970s, reflecting the angst of the average Indian. In choosing to be the ordinary man’s “hero” as opposed to a thespian in new Bollywood, Salman Khan remains tightly linked to his father’s oeuvre. Thanks dad.
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
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
World Sevens Series standing after Dubai
1. South Africa
2. New Zealand
3. England
4. Fiji
5. Australia
6. Samoa
7. Kenya
8. Scotland
9. France
10. Spain
11. Argentina
12. Canada
13. Wales
14. Uganda
15. United States
16. Russia
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
At a glance
- 20,000 new jobs for Emiratis over three years
- Dh300 million set aside to train 18,000 jobseekers in new skills
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo
Power: 268hp at 5,600rpm
Torque: 380Nm at 4,800rpm
Transmission: CVT auto
Fuel consumption: 9.5L/100km
On sale: now
Price: from Dh195,000
The Birkin bag is made by Hermès.
It is named after actress and singer Jane Birkin
Noone from Hermès will go on record to say how much a new Birkin costs, how long one would have to wait to get one, and how many bags are actually made each year.
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Score
Third Test, Day 1
New Zealand 229-7 (90 ov)
Pakistan
New Zealand won the toss and elected to bat
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MWTC info
Tickets to the MWTC range from Dh100 and can be purchased from www.ticketmaster.ae or by calling 800 86 823 from within the UAE or 971 4 366 2289 from outside the country and all Virgin Megastores. Fans looking to attend all three days of the MWTC can avail of a special 20 percent discount on ticket prices.
How to come clean about financial infidelity
- Be honest and transparent: It is always better to own up than be found out. Tell your partner everything they want to know. Show remorse. Inform them of the extent of the situation so they know what they are dealing with.
- Work on yourself: Be honest with yourself and your partner and figure out why you did it. Don’t be ashamed to ask for professional help.
- Give it time: Like any breach of trust, it requires time to rebuild. So be consistent, communicate often and be patient with your partner and yourself.
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PSG's line up
GK: Alphonse Areola (youth academy)
Defence - RB: Dani Alves (free transfer); CB: Marquinhos (€31.4 million); CB: Thiago Silva (€42m); LB: Layvin Kurzawa (€23m)
Midfield - Angel di Maria (€47m); Adrien Rabiot (youth academy); Marco Verratti (€12m)
Forwards - Neymar (€222m); Edinson Cavani (€63m); Kylian Mbappe (initial: loan; to buy: €180m)
Total cost: €440.4m (€620.4m if Mbappe makes permanent move)
