Latest news with #BurjChallenge
Khaleej Times
23-02-2025
- Sport
- Khaleej Times
Dubai: Meet athletes who climbed Burj Khalifa's 160 floors in 31 minutes with 10kg vests
For Team Colorado from the US, the Burj Challenge in the Dubai Games was an unexpected but thrilling addition to their competitive obstacle race journey. When they first heard about it, they were excited and eager to take on the challenge, drawing from their experience of climbing mountains back home. The Burj Challenge demanded exceptional physical and mental endurance. Competitors had to climb 160 floors of the world's tallest building while wearing weighted vests — 10kg for men and 7kg for women — adding intensity to the already gruelling race. Team Colorado, consisting of Anthony, Ethan, Jack, Isaac, Veejay, and Ryan, claimed victory in the Burj Challenge. Competing against 50 teams from cities worldwide, each wearing weighted vests, they successfully completed around 3,000 steps as they raced up 160 floors of the Burj Khalifa and secured the win. 'The climb was extremely difficult. We knew exactly what we wanted to do, and we executed our plan as a team, trusting each other,' said Veejay as he reflected on the team's victory. While the team initially anticipated a different challenge for the year, their excitement grew when the Burj Climb was announced. 'Back in Colorado, we climb mountains for fun. But this time, we were ready to conquer the tallest building in the world,' shared Veejay. Team Colorado completed the climb in 31 minutes and 10 seconds. Coordination among the members was crucial to avoid tripping over one another. 'It was a true test of endurance. Our lungs were burning, and our heart rates were skyrocketing. Pacing ourselves was key to preserving energy,' Veejay explained. 'One of our team members was completely exhausted towards the end, and we had to pull him up for the last few steps. We aimed to complete it in 30 minutes but missed it by just one minute,' added veejay. Despite being from different parts of Colorado and not training together regularly, Dubai has become the place that unites them as a team. 'We all have an obstacle course racing background, and the challenges this year wer the hardest yet in the Battle of the Cities. We've been competing for the past three years, and each year, it's become progressively tougher,' Veejay noted. He further mentioned that the organisation gets better each year, with transparent scoring and excellent judges. "This is the best event we participate in all year. It's our first time making it to the finals, and we're hoping to take home the win," Veejay added. Team Zwolle from the Netherlands, consisting of Mathijs, Joey, Rick, Frank, Bo, and Carlos, also took on the Burj Challenge. Mathijs reflected on their experience, saying it was much harder than expected. 'The ascent took longer than we anticipated. We reached the top in 40 minutes and 20 seconds after climbing nearly 3,000 steps." For Team Zwolle, the challenge was made even tougher by the rope tying them together while carrying a 10kg vest. 'Other teams were faster, and the climb was both mentally and physically exhausting,' Mathijs added. The team had prepared for the Burj Challenge a week in advance but admitted that they underestimated its difficulty. 'We couldn't reach first place because we may not have put in as much effort during our training,' Mathjis said.
Hi Dubai
20-02-2025
- Sport
- Hi Dubai
Dubai Games 2025 Kicks Off with Thrilling Burj Challenge
Dubai reaffirmed its status as a premier global sporting hub with the exhilarating Burj Challenge, a prelude to the highly anticipated DUBAI GAMES 2025. The event saw 50 international teams scale the iconic Burj Khalifa, competing for crucial points in the Battle of the Cities category. Teams from across the world demonstrated exceptional endurance and resilience, racing up 160 floors while carrying weighted vests—10 kg for men and 7 kg for women. The top three teams, Colorado (USA), Oviedo (Spain), and Kutná Hora (Czech Republic), emerged victorious with impressive times of 31:13, 31:43, and 31:48 minutes, respectively. DUBAI GAMES 2025 has attracted a record number of participants from five continents, with teams representing cities such as Abu Dhabi, London, Paris, Moscow, Seoul, and Cape Town. This global representation highlights Dubai's growing influence in the international sports arena. Marwan bin Essa, Director of DUBAI GAMES, emphasized the significance of the event: 'The Burj Challenge embodies determination and ambition. The overwhelming international participation reaffirms DUBAI GAMES' status as a premier global competition.' Now in its sixth edition, DUBAI GAMES continues to expand with strong backing from major partners, including DP World, DAMAC Group, Emarat, and DEWA. The main championship, featuring 244 teams across multiple categories, will run from 20 to 23 February at Dubai Festival City, boasting a total prize pool exceeding AED3.1 million. With its refreshed identity, DUBAI GAMES aims to inspire younger generations towards an active lifestyle, reinforcing Dubai's commitment to excellence in sports and fitness. Follow @DubaiGames on social media for updates on the tournament. News Source: Dubai Media Office
Emirates 24/7
19-02-2025
- Sport
- Emirates 24/7
International teams kick off DUBAI GAMES 2025 campaigns with gruelling Burj Challenge
- International teams kick off DUBAI GAMES 2025 campaigns with gruelling Burj Challenge as 'Battle of the Cities' heats up - 50 competing teams representing global cities don weighted vests and race up 160 floors of the world's tallest building in their bid for supremacy - Featuring contestants from five continents, upcoming edition of Games sets new milestone in terms of global participation and offers a total prize pool of AED3.1 million Dubai's immense popularity as a sporting destination that hosts major international showpieces and draws the best of talent from every sport while offering a truly global fan following for star athletes received yet another glowing endorsement as 50 teams from across the world squared off at the Burj Khalifa in an exhilarating display of grit, passion, and sporting agility, previewing the excitement building up for the upcoming DUBAI GAMES 2025. Competing in the Burj Challenge, a gruelling test of endurance, teamwork and resilience that heralds the DUBAI GAMES 2025, 50 teams representing cities from across the globe put on a rousing display as they launched their respective campaigns for the Games in earnest. Racing to the top of Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building, athletes from each of the participating teams showcased exceptional strength and determination, vying for vital bonus points in the prestigious Battle of the Cities category. The top three teams, Colorado from the USA, Oviedo from Spain, and Kutna Hora from Czech Republic, achieved exceptional times of 31:13 minutes, 31:43 minutes, and 31:48 minutes respectively, distinguishing themselves as frontrunners in this year's competition as the tournament progresses. The Burj Challenge called for incredible physical and mental toughness, requiring competitors to ascend 160 floors while wearing weighted vests – 10 kg for men and 7 kg for women – intensifying the challenge of the high-stakes race. DUBAI GAMES 2025 has set a new standard in terms of international participation, attracting competitors from five continents. This year's Battle of the Cities features teams from Abu Dhabi and Dubai (UAE), Kuwait City (Kuwait), and Manama (Bahrain). The United States fields teams from Houston, St. Louis, Colorado, and Hagåtña, while Russia is represented by Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Kazan. The United Kingdom is competing with teams from London, Oxford, and Portsmouth, and France with Paris, Besançon, and Toulouse. Denmark has fielded teams from Copenhagen, Vestsjælland, and Aarhus, while Spain is represented by Barcelona, Oviedo, and Irun. Other participating cities include Frankfurt, Aachen, and Ulm (Germany); Gdańsk, Rybnik, and Częstochowa (Poland); Lisbon and Cascais (Portugal); Breda and Zwolle (Netherlands); Sofia and Varna (Bulgaria); Sydney and Brisbane (Australia); Oslo (Norway); Salčininkai (Lithuania); Lucerne (Switzerland); Edinburgh (Scotland); Tehran (Iran); Vysoké Tatry (Slovakia); Tashkent (Uzbekistan); Cape Town (South Africa); Seoul (South Korea); Florence (Italy); Montreal (Canada); Malmö (Sweden); and Kutná Hora (Czech Republic). Remarkable lineup This remarkable global lineup underscores DUBAI GAMES' growing international prominence, uniting top athletes in a celebration of sporting skill, strategy, and teamwork. Marwan bin Essa, Director of DUBAI GAMES, said: 'The Burj Challenge epitomises determination, teamwork, and ambition, reflecting Dubai's drive to transcend limits and champion excellence. The remarkable global participation in this year's Battle of the Cities underscores DUBAI GAMES' status as a top-tier global sporting event, celebrating the spirit of competition and collaboration. As the tournament progresses, we eagerly anticipate more inspiring displays of strategy, resilience, and unity.' In its sixth edition, DUBAI GAMES continues to receive strong support from prominent public and private sector partners, further solidifying its status as one of the world's leading sporting events. This year's partners include DP World as the Official Partner, DAMAC Group, Emirates General Petroleum Corporation (Emarat) as Diamond Partners, and Dubai Electricity & Water Authority (DEWA), First Abu Dhabi Bank, and M42 as Gold Sponsors. C4 serves as the Bronze Sponsor, with Dubai Festival City as the official venue partner, Al Futtaim Automotive as a supporting partner, du as telecom partner, and Dubai Media Incorporated and Arabian Radio Network as media partners. Additional sponsors include Adidas, Viya, and Mai Dubai. DUBAI GAMES 2025 features 244 teams across various categories, including 84 teams in the Battle of the Government – Men; 26 teams in the Battle of the Government – Women; 28 teams in the Battle of the Community, and 50 teams in the Battle of the Cities, in addition to 56 teams that participated in the Battle of Juniors held in Damac Hills on 8 February. The main championship will run from 20 to 23 February at Dubai Festival City. The total prize pool exceeds AED3.1 million. With its refreshed identity, DUBAI GAMES serves as an inspiring platform to encourage younger generations to adopt an active lifestyle that embodies the core values of renewal, ambition, and resilience – reflecting the vibrant spirit of Dubai. For more information on the sixth edition of DUBAI GAMES, follow @DubaiGames on Instagram, TikTok, X, and YouTube. Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.
