Hada News
Abu Dhabi opens world championship course to the public on 21 November, with a triathlon for children aged 4 to 16
Registration is open for 1km to 10km runs and the Hudayriyat NextGen Tri during the World Triathlon Multisport Championships. Places are limited.
Residents and visitors in Abu Dhabi can race on a world championship course next month. On Saturday 21 November, Hudayriyat Island will host public running races and a youth triathlon in the middle of the World Triathlon Multisport Championships, which run on the island from 13 to 22 November. Registration has opened, and organisers say places are limited and must be booked in advance.
What is on. Two distances, 1km and 3km, are untimed fun runs aimed at families and casual runners. The 5km and 10km races are timed. The Hudayriyat NextGen Tri lets children from 4 to 16 swim, cycle and run in six age groups, and a Junior Relay takes teams of two or three.
Who runs it. The community day is organised by Modon, the championships' host, with the Abu Dhabi Sports Council. The council's secretary-general, Aref Al Awani, said much of the value of big events lies beyond elite competition, and that the partnership aims to get more people across the UAE into active lifestyles. Modon group chief executive Bill O'Regan said the goal is for people to experience a global event for themselves.
Around the race. Modon is seeking Gold certification under World Triathlon's sustainable-event scheme, and plans a beach clean-up on the island. An official championships app with athlete tracking and event information was due to launch in the week of 15 October, according to WAM, as carried by Big News Network.
Why it matters: For families in the capital, this is a way into a top-level event, with distances short enough for young children and beginners.