Dubai: The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) is taking the 30-day Dubai Fitness Challenge seriously.
As this year's 30-day challenge is about to kick off (on October 26), the agency has come up with an unusual video declaring their acceptance of the challenge.
Last year, as part of the challenge, the agency showed how one of its employees pulled a 12-tonne double-deck passenger bus in Dubai.
The challenge is the largest city-wide fitness movement to date that got thousands of people signing up and being more active.
This year, it targets up to a million participants to engage in at least 30 minutes of physical movement daily for 30 days.
RTA's challenge acceptance video shows a parkour professional doing stunts to beat the clock and reach his work in 30 minutes.
The man pulled off his parkour moves — running, jumping, climbing and doing flipping — through a Dubai Metro station to Al Ghubaiba, where he flipped around and over taxis, buses, an RFID ticket booth and a row of Abras (water taxis) in the Dubai Creek.
Parkour is the activity or sport of moving rapidly through an area, typically in an urban environment, negotiating obstacles by running, jumping, and climbing.
RTA's created-for-advertising parkour pro video, however, comes with a warning:
"The video was purely created for advertising purposes announcing the acceptable of the Dubai Fitness Challenge. All stunts and tricks displayed in this video are performed by a professional Parkour athlete in a controlled environment, under the supervision of our safety experts. Do not attempt to imitate, or perform similar stunt, as they will cause injury and you will be faced with legal liability."
DFC was launched the first time in 2017 by Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council.
The challenge will once again span 30 full days of activity across a range of city-wide locations accessible for all segments of Dubai’s society.
What is the Dubai Fitness Challenge?
It is an inclusive movement across the city and the wider UAE, to sustainably enhance the health and long-term well-being of people of all ages, abilities and levels of fitness. It was first launched by Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Sports Council, in 2017.
When does it start?
This year, Dubai Fitness Challenge runs from October 26 to November 24 with a bigger public-engagement programme.
Who can join?
Everyone, both residents and visitors. This 30-day programme is designed to be inclusive, with activities across Dubai aimed to get everyone moving and reaping health benefits.
How to enlist?
To enlist to the challenge and monitor your daily activity, download the Dubai Fitness Challenge app on iOS and Android platforms.
What's different this year?
This year target up to 1 million participants. Shaikh Hamdan said: "I urge you all — residents and visitors — to invest in yourselves and your happiness — so you can better contribute to the welfare of your families, your communities and the global society. Take this opportunity, join the challenge and let’s move towards collectively making Dubai the most active city in the world.”
