Daman Games initiative unveiled to challenge sedentary lifestyles

– Scheme to launch with skateboarding competitions and will integrate with ActiveLife
– Dr Michael Bitzer, CEO: “Daman Games will be a key part of our efforts to encourage the whole community to lead healthy lifestyles”

National Health Insurance Company – Daman has launched a brand new initiative called Daman Games, which will provide the UAE’s community with access to a range of competitive sports for them to directly participate in. Starting with skateboarding, with other sports set to be added, Daman Games will also be integrated with Daman’s wider activities that encourage healthy living – providing a fully rounded approach to addressing sedentary lifestyles.

At the outset, Daman Games will focus on introducing as many people to skateboarding within the UAE now that the sport has been added to the Olympic roster starting with Tokyo 2020. Daman explained that skateboarding is a non-traditional sport which may entice an entirely new audience.

Daman’s ActiveLife activities will be integrated to provide Daman Games participants with venues for regular fitness training sessions. The weekly events are free to enter and easily accessible, taking place in iconic landmarks such as Yas Marina Circuit and Zayed Sports City amongst others.

Commenting on Daman Games’ objective to not only build winners but also to develop physical fitness amongst youths, Dr Michael Bitzer, Chief Executive Officer said: “Starting with skateboarding, we are providing young and promising talent a chance to lead the way and develop the essential qualities needed to become a future champion. We hope Daman Games will instil not only the habit of fitness and physical wellbeing but also create an opportunity using the latest technologies and social media for strong peer influence amongst the younger generation.”

Dr Bitzer adds: “We’ve seen this previously from our work with the Daman Speed Academy, where young athletes were educated about the importance of competitive respect, healthy eating and physical preparation. Despite motorsport’s limited popularity in the UAE compared to sports such as football, the young stars quickly built a following of inspired teenagers and young adults. It is this positive influence that we expect Daman Games to have across different age groups as we add more sports and engaging platforms that demonstrates the sheer benefits of healthy living.”

September and October will see a series of five Daman Games activation events take place across the UAE, where newcomers can try their hand at skateboarding before two major competitions taking place in Abu Dhabi on 16th November and in Dubai on 23rd November in a bid to find those with the most potential to be the region’s future skateboarding champions. Even those not directly competing can still get involved: either with the on-site activations or in ActiveLife training sessions, all helping to encourage the wider community to get active.

Dr Bitzer added: “As part of this exciting new programme’s strategy, through its wide sports offering and world class competitions will be fully aligned our current ActiveLife weekly events. As ActiveLife’s TrainYAS has previously prepared participants to compete at TriYAS, we expect similar results with the launch of Daman Games, ensuring not only fitness but also competitive sports are accessible to even more people.”

Daman Games Skateboarding Competitions
Two big competitions will be held in November on the 16th in Abu Dhabi (Al Bahar) and on the 23rd in Dubai (JBR The Beach), where custom made bespoke street skate parks will be built in each location. Full details of the competitions will be revealed in due course and posted on the company’s official website.

Daman Games Activation Events
In September and October there will be a series of five “activation events” taking place in Al Ain (Bawadi Mall), Abu Dhabi (Marina Mall) and Dubai (Jumeirah Lake Towers, Mall of the Emirates & La Mer). The activation events will look to introduce newcomers to skateboarding, whilst offering more experienced riders the chance to prepare, practise and also be scouted for the main competitions taking place in November.

There will be an activity village at every event with plenty of fun things to do for both kids and adults to enjoy while skateboarding is taking place, such as expert demonstrations, skateboarding advice clinics and best trick contest displays.