Ski Dubai To Host Para Alpine Snow Sports Event

Dubai, United Arab Emirates – Under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Chairman of the National Olympic Committee and Chairman of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Creative Sports Awards, and in association with Dubai Sports Council, Asian Paralympic Committee, UAE Paralympic Committee and UAE Winter Sports Federation, Ski Dubai has today announced that it will host the UAE’s first-ever Para Snow Sports events.

The events are aligned with Ski Dubai’s commitment and continuing efforts to elevate snow sports in the country. The events will be held in two disciplines and commence with the Para Snowboard Asian Cup on 6th November followed by the World Para Snowboard World Cup on 7-8th November, World Para Alpine Skiing Slalom Event (WPAS) competitions on 12-13th November, and conclude with the Para Alpine Skiing Asian Cup on 14-15th November, respectively.

Building on the success of Ski Dubai’s Sponsored Athletes programme and the UAE National Ski and Snowboard Championships held last year, the Para Snow Sports events will feature elite athlete participation from a number of countries. The Para Snow Sports events are some of the most prestigious to be held in the UAE and are second only to the Paralympic Winter Games and the World Championships, in terms of profile.

Underscoring the importance of the events, World Para Snowboard World Cup has confirmed participation of 48 athletes from 15 countries including the USA, Australia, Belgium and Japan. Meanwhile, World Para Snowboard Asian Cup will welcome participants from Brazil, China and Croatia.

Silver medallist Lisa Bunschoten and many other acclaimed athletes will be participating in the events, which are part of Ski Dubai’s continual efforts to raise awareness for people of determination. Ski Dubai continues to invest heavily to make its facilities more accessible to ensure that people with determination can enjoy the ski resort as much as anyone else. The ongoing investments to upgrade its facilities are in line with international standards and to make Ski Dubai inclusive and welcoming to all guests.

Commenting on the Para Snow Sports events, Ahmed Galal Ismail, Chief Executive Officer at Majid Al Futtaim – Ventures said, “We are delighted to host the first-ever Para Alpine Skiing & Snowboard events in the UAE at Ski Dubai. This is part of our commitment to build the calibre of snow sports in the country and make the UAE and Ski Dubai an international destination for the sport. With multiple awards to its name Ski Dubai is set to become one of the major global destinations for Ski and Snowboard Championships and we look forward to welcoming the talented cohort of athletes to the slopes. Let the games begin!”

Commenting on the Para Snow Sports Events, Dimitrije Lazarovski, Head of World Para Snow Sports, IPC, added: “The Para Snow Sports events are an important step in raising awareness of snow sports in the UAE and Asia. Ski Dubai have done a magnificent job in building this awareness and laying the foundation for growth. I am confident that these events will take winter sports to the next level in the country and help build a new cadre of talent that can compete in national and international championships.”

H.E. Saeed Mohammed Hareb, Secretary General of Dubai Sports Council added: “The UAE government gives unwavering support to people of determination, and we are proud to partner with Ski Dubai to organize the country’s inaugural Para Snow Sports events. These events will not only elevate the standing of the UAE when it comes to snow sports, they set a positive example for local athletes who have a desire to make a name for themselves in the sport. We thank Ski Dubai for putting in so much effort to develop snow sports in the UAE and we hope to see the formation of the UAE National Snow Sports team soon.”

Hamel Al Qubaisi, Vice President of the UAE Winter Sports Federation, stressed the excitement of all stakeholders in the upcoming winter sport competitions. “The athletes competing in these events continuously prove their ability to achieve outstanding results. We are extremely grateful for the efforts of Ski Dubai to organize events for the development of snow sports in the UAE.” Al-Qubaisi added: “We’d like to thank the Dubai Sports Council for its continued support of the organization of the Para snow sports championships and other tournaments here in the UAE.”

H.E. Mohamed Fadhel AL Hameli, Chairman of UAE Paralympic Committee and IPC Board Member comments: “The hosting of these events at Ski Dubai is a very big accomplishment for the UAE, especially when it comes to positioning the nation on the map for international snow sport competitions. The most impressive aspect of these competitions, however, is the athletes. The dedication to their craft is unparalleled, and on behalf of the UAE Paralympic Committee, I’d like to wish all those competing the best of luck. We encourage Para athletes here in the UAE to attend the events and continue to practice their skiing and snowboarding skills, perhaps registering and being a part of next year’s competitions."

For more information and a full schedule of events, spectators and enthusiasts are encouraged to visit www.skidxb.com/events. More information on the competitions can be found at https://www.paralympic.org/snowboard/ and https://www.paralympic.org/alpine-skiing/.