Abu Dhabi to host first Spartan World Championship outside of US


Patrick Ryan
  • English
  • Arabic

Abu Dhabi's first Spartan World Championship will coincide with the 50th anniversary of UAE National Day.

It will take place in the Liwa Desert from December 3 to 5 and comprise three events – the Spartan Kids World Championship, the Elite Spartan World Championship and the Spartan Team World Championship.

The weather in Abu Dhabi in December is perfect

"The Spartan Worlds is a unique and ground-breaking event taking place at the spectacular Liwa desert in Abu Dhabi," said Aref Al Awani, general secretary of Abu Dhabi Sports Council, state news agency Wam reported.

“The championship will be even grander as it also coincides with the UAE's Golden Jubilee celebrations.”

The tournament, held outside the US for the first time, kicks off with the Spartan Kids World Championship race.

This will be followed by the Elite Spartan World Championship. Regarded as the crown jewel of the weekend, competitors take part in a half-marathon mix of high-speed, leg-burning running and steep climbs.

The event was initially scheduled to take place last year but was postponed due to Covid-19.

Spartan's Director of Business Development Cherie Bortnick explained why the UAE's capital was chosen as this year’s venue.

“The terrain of Abu Dhabi is very unique. Most Spartans around the world take on courses in the mountains, farmland, parks, stadiums, and dirt fields," she said.

“It is few and far between that Spartans experience a desert landscape. Abu Dhabi will have exposed, new terrain that is wholly unique to this region of the world."

It is not only the terrain and location that are different from past events.

“The World Championship has historically been held in September, but as new products and championships emerged, we knew it was time to extend the season and ensure that the World Championship became the last race of the season," Ms Bortnick said.

"The weather in Abu Dhabi in December is perfect.”

The emirate is no stranger to global tournaments and is already home to top-tier competitions such as the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship and the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

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UAE squad

Rahul Chopra (captain), Aayan Afzal Khan, Ali Naseer, Aryansh Sharma, Basil Hameed, Dhruv Parashar, Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Farooq, Muhammad Jawadullah, Muhammad Waseem, Omid Rahman, Rahul Bhatia, Tanish Suri, Vishnu Sukumaran, Vriitya Aravind

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Friday, November 1 – Oman v UAE
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Thursday, November 7 – UAE v Oman
Saturday, November 9 – Netherlands v UAE

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Started: 2021
 
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
 
Based: Tunisia 
 
Sector: Water technology 
 
Number of staff: 22 
 
Investment raised: $4 million 
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It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
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The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.

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Date founded: 04 November 2017

Founders: Abdulaziz AlBlooshi and Harsh Hirani

Based: Dubai, UAE

Number of employees: 10

Sector: AI, software

Cashflow: Dh2.5 Million  

Funding stage: Series A

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Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor

Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm

Transmission: 10-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km

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Price: From Dh590,000

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Wydad Nahiri 21’, Hajhouj 90'

Urawa Antonio 18’, 60’, Kashiwagi 26’

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Red flags
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Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching

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Women's final

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Based: Muscat

Launch year: 2018

Number of employees: 40

Sector: Online food delivery

Funding: Raised $3.2m since inception 

MATCH INFO

Scotland 59 (Tries: Hastings (2), G Horne (3), Turner, Seymour, Barclay, Kinghorn, McInally; Cons: Hastings 8)

Russia 0

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