The Dubai fitness and health scene welcomed a major new player yesterday with the opening of Sportsmania a multisports facility offering some of the best pitches in the city.
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With the sporting tastes of residents ever more diverse, the new centre in Jumeirah Lake Towers brings pretty much the whole spectrum, with there being five-a-side football pitches, basketball, handball and tennis courts, while beach sports have a new home with beach soccer and volleyball areas.
And with the centre being brand new opened at a special launch ceremony yesterday all of the facilities are in pristine condition and state of the art.
On hand in JLT, alongside Sportsmania Director Fouad Ghandour, were Kamal Ali Sulaiman from the UAE national beach soccer team as well as Nehal Abdel Aziz who plays for the UAE women’s national football team.
Ghandour said: “We are excited to bring the Dubai community a premier offering in sports, with a wide range of options from football to beach volleyball in a state of the art setting right on their door step.”
The football courts are rubberless and give the experience of playing on real grass. All meeting FIFA-standard regulations, the pitches also include the latest shock pad technology to soften impact on joints.
Official kickoff for the @sportsmaniauae venue. Best of luck guys. #Sportsmaniauae pic.twitter.com/DXq74YNyRC
— Lord Figo (@figo29) April 15, 2015
For one, Sulaiman was suitably impressed. He said: “As football is one of the most loved sports in the UAE, I am very happy to be here and experience the pitches and courts.
“We need more investment in centres like Sportsmania that provide our community with access to superior facilities where they can play their favourite sport.
The beach soccer facilities are one of a kind in Dubai and a great addition for beach soccer enthusiasts.”
Sportsmania say they want to inspire athletes to achieve their sports and fitness goals through the quality of their facilities as well as a variety of leagues, academies and one-on-one coaching sessions taught by some of the country’s top sports and fitness instructors.
The centre also wants to attract female athletes and several women’s leagues are now open for registration.
Abdel Aziz, who plays as a fullback for the UAE women’s team, said: “I believe the centre will be a key supporter in advancing women’s sports, especially football, and will act as an important hub to attract the growing number of female athletes in the UAE.
“It’s a really beautiful facility to have here. I think it’s one of a kind.
“The team has spent a lot of time, effort and money on putting such a facility in place. It’s great because there are a lot of new technologies and designs. It’s going to be really enjoyable for sport fans to play here.
“I would rate this place very highly in terms of location, access and the number of pitches available. The whole thing is fantastic – 10 out of 10.”
As Dubai residents become more fitness and health conscious, Sportsmania say their mission is aligned with the government’s directives for boosting participation and creating a comprehensive sporting environment.
We are open! Come and play football, tennis, beach soccer, beach volleyball, handball, basketball -… https://t.co/p9z2rsyMYK
— Sportsmania Dubai (@sportsmaniauae) March 21, 2015
Ghandour added: “We designed Sportsmania to provide an unparalleled athletic experience to enthusiasts in a unique setting where they can enjoy their favourite sports with friends, family or colleagues.
“We are confident that Sportsmania will become the Dubai community’s new home for sporting excellence and health and fitness.”
In support of youth sports, there are a series of children’s academies open to all abilities for ages five to 14 years. Ghandour believes that many of the 60 or so schools and universities in the surrounding neighbourhood of Sportsmania are currently underserved when it comes to facilities.
“With the rise in childhood obesity and diabetes, we certainly hope that the schools who are not able to offer the children sporting programs because of a lack of facilities will benefit from our centre,” he added.
On top of the pitches, the amenities include spacious male and female changing rooms and lockers, a retreat area, a comfortable lounge area with large screens for viewing the latest live local and international sports matches, a function room for events and birthday parties, free wi-fi throughout the venue, ample parking for all members, a cafe and a sports memorabilia shop.
Companies wishing to promote corporate wellness and boost team spirit can create their own private leagues or alternately take part in one of the new corporate leagues Sportsmania is planning on launching. With a host of special rates and offers to coincide with the centre’s opening, now is a good time to pop down and check out Dubai’s latest sporting hub.
What : Sportsmania, multi-sports complex.
Where: Jumeirah Lake Towers (see website for exact location), open 14:00-00:00.
Prices: Various, with special offers available following official launch.
Contact: sportsmania.ae / 052 242 4789.
