Schools gear up for Dubai Fitness Challenge

Teachers and schools across Dubai are gearing up for the 30-day Dubai Fitness Challenge - a city-wide initiative of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council for Dubai Government.

Calling on people of all fitness levels, the challenge encourages 30 minutes of daily activity for 30 days from 20 October to 18 November 2017.

As part of the events lined-up for schools, universities and educational institutions, Dubai's Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) is inviting students and teachers to get #FitTogether.

At 8am every morning during the Dubai Fitness Challenge, KHDA director general Dr Abdulla Al Karam will visit a school or university to inspire students and teachers to get active. Teachers with innovative ideas can send their invites by registering on www.teachtogether.ae

KHDA also hosted over 150 physical education teachers from over 100 private schools in Dubai at a special event hosted in Zayed University. Together, the event inspired 900 new ideas to celebrate the Dubai Fitness Challenge in schools.

KHDA director general Dr Abdulla Al Karam said: "This challenge is important for schools and universities because they can take a leadership role by uniting the community and inspiring everyone including parents, teachers, students and school leaders. We are really excited to go to schools and be a part of the hundreds of activities that will get people off the couch and do their part to be #FitTogether."

Repton Dubai headmaster David Cook said: "We are delighted to support this excellent initiative that promotes fitness and well-being among our pupils, staff and parents. There are many fun and engaging ways that our school community will get involved and we are making a bold start to the challenge on Sunday. The whole school is starting the working week in sports kit, and joining in together, in a large work out in the middle of the 'Repton Circle' for 30 minutes. Even I am dusting off my trainers and will join in. We want to do all that we can, over these thirty days, to encourage our pupils and parents to get involved and develop healthy habits."

Jumeirah Baccalaureate principal Richard Drew commented: "Our school fully embraces the Dubai 30x30 challenge. Over the last two years, we have instigated a 'FITNOVATION' initiative that has challenged students, parents and teachers to undertake innovative fitness challenges in the month of November. This year we are bringing the two aspects together with a whole school challenge to circumnavigate the globe form Dubai to Dubai. This can be achieved by walking, running, cycling, skipping, rowing or any other active means. Students are being issued with pedometers so that daily steps and distances can be counted. A range of other activities will be available in the mornings as well as the regular extensive sporting extracurricular activities that we offer daily."