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.
The man behind many of the UAE’s biggest sporting events has warned residents not to exercise outdoors during the coronavirus lockdown.
Andy Fordham, who organises triathlons, duathlons and Iron Man challenges, said people should adapt their training routines to exercise at home.
Mr Fordham, 55, said he had been inundated with requests for advice about going for a run or cycling while current government guidance is to stay at home except for essential travel to hospitals, pharmacies or supermarkets.
He urged members of the public to stay indoors where possible, highlighting the variety of exercises people could do from home instead.
“Don’t think that because you are going out for a quick run or cycle that you will be immune,” he said.
There are so many workouts you can download at home or watch online
“There are plenty of options for people to exercise without leaving their properties.
"A friend of mine even did a full marathon on his 19-metre balcony running back and forth from one side to another."
As of April 2, 814 people in the UAE have tested positive for Covid-19 resulting in eight deaths. Sixty one patients have recovered.
Globally, there have been more than 938,000 cases and more than 47,000 fatalities. The number of people known to have recovered from the virus currently stands at 195,000.
Mr Fordham, who moved to Dubai from New Zealand in 2008, said he had been responsible for organising more than 100 sporting events in the UAE.
Competitions included the Dubai Ironman, the JLL Triathlon in Dubai and the ITU Triathlon in Abu Dhabi.
He was also race director for the Sheikh Zayed Road Run in Dubai last year in which more than 77,000 took part.
“When I was in New Zealand, triathlons were a new sport,” said the keep-fit fanatic.
“Back then it wasn’t too hard to come up with dates that didn’t clash with another event.
“Now it’s all changed. Now you would usually have four or five events of mass participation taking place each weekend.”
Mr Fordham said he had been a keen cyclist growing up but that his interest in the sport had been rekindled in 2012.
At about that time he began using the cycling track at Al Qudra Road on the outskirts of Dubai to keep fit after work.
"I started to organise a duathlon in 2013 - which is a triathlon without the swimming - and I was hooked again from there," he told The National.
“I reinvented myself – it was the springboard for what I’ve been doing ever since.”
Mr Fordham now runs the Crazy Bonkers Eventz company. The firm organises large sporting events all around the UAE and abroad.
The father-of-two said the international explosion in keeping fit continued apace, and the Emirates was no exception. He said there were now hundreds of gyms in Dubai alone.
“The awareness of health and fitness is huge,” he said. “I’ve noticed a massive increase in numbers of people taking part in events in the last five to six years.
“I think a lot of it has to do with how multicultural Dubai is. Having so many people from different parts of the world has had a huge impact on the wider culture here.”
Mr Fordham described the various exercises people could do from home while gyms and fitness centres were closed due to the coronavirus outbreak.
“There are so many workouts you can download at home or watch online,” he said.
“There are people who are doing things like star jumps and press-ups. Others take it to another level.
“There are even interactive smart trainers that let you remove the rear tyre of a bicycle and mount the back of the bike on them.
“The resistance is controlled via an app and it basically means you can cycle like you normally would outside.
“It’s hugely popular with members of the cycling community here in Dubai right now."
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000
Available: Now
More coverage from the Future Forum
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
German intelligence warnings
- 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
- 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
- 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250
Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution
More from Armen Sarkissian
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
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The specs: 2018 Audi Q5/SQ5
Price, base: Dh183,900 / Dh249,000
Engine: 2.0L, turbocharged in-line four-cylinder / 3.0L, turbocharged V6
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic / Eight-speed automatic
Power: 252hp @ 5,000rpm / 354hp @ 5,400rpm
Torque: 370Nm @ 1,600rpm / 500Nm @ 1,370rpm
Fuel economy: combined 7.2L / 100km / 8.3L / 100km
A cryptocurrency primer for beginners
Cryptocurrency Investing for Dummies – by Kiana Danial
There are several primers for investing in cryptocurrencies available online, including e-books written by people whose credentials fall apart on the second page of your preferred search engine.
Ms Danial is a finance coach and former currency analyst who writes for Nasdaq. Her broad-strokes primer (2019) breaks down investing in cryptocurrency into baby steps, while explaining the terms and technologies involved.
Although cryptocurrencies are a fast evolving world, this book offers a good insight into the game as well as providing some basic tips, strategies and warning signs.
Begin your cryptocurrency journey here.
Available at Magrudy’s , Dh104
How to avoid crypto fraud
- Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
- Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
- Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
- Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
- Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
- Only use reputable platforms that have a track record of strong regulatory compliance.
- Store funds in hardware wallets as opposed to online exchanges.
How will Gen Alpha invest?
Mark Chahwan, co-founder and chief executive of robo-advisory firm Sarwa, forecasts that Generation Alpha (born between 2010 and 2024) will start investing in their teenage years and therefore benefit from compound interest.
“Technology and education should be the main drivers to make this happen, whether it’s investing in a few clicks or their schools/parents stepping up their personal finance education skills,” he adds.
Mr Chahwan says younger generations have a higher capacity to take on risk, but for some their appetite can be more cautious because they are investing for the first time. “Schools still do not teach personal finance and stock market investing, so a lot of the learning journey can feel daunting and intimidating,” he says.
He advises millennials to not always start with an aggressive portfolio even if they can afford to take risks. “We always advise to work your way up to your risk capacity, that way you experience volatility and get used to it. Given the higher risk capacity for the younger generations, stocks are a favourite,” says Mr Chahwan.
Highlighting the role technology has played in encouraging millennials and Gen Z to invest, he says: “They were often excluded, but with lower account minimums ... a customer with $1,000 [Dh3,672] in their account has their money working for them just as hard as the portfolio of a high get-worth individual.”
The Prison Letters of Nelson Mandela
Edited by Sahm Venter
Published by Liveright
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.
