8 December 2021: The third edition of Gov Games 2021 is all set to begin tomorrow (Thursday, December 9, 2021), under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council. The event will be held at Expo Village - Expo 2020 Dubai with MyWhoosh as the official sponsor of what will be a highly competitive and enthusiastic mega event where teams will need to combine their physical strength, mental abilities, and strategic thinking to face a series of unique obstacles.

The Organizing Committee of the Gov Games 2021 announced as well that it has signed sponsorship agreements with Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), Dubai Sports Council, and Al Tadawi Medical Center as sponsors of the third edition of, in line with efforts to boost Gov Games’ engagement as a one-of-a-kind platform which advances the sports culture in the emirate, as well as promotes the value of a positive spirit, teamwork, and harmony in the community.

His Excellency Saeed Hareb, Secretary-General of the Dubai Sports Council, said: 'This initiative launched by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council, continues to gain importance year after year and after, following the major successes of the first two editions. This year, we are witnessing the 3rd edition happening in a more distinguished venue, the Expo 2020 Dubai, coinciding with the celebrations of the UAE’s Golden Jubilee.”

Hareb added: 'The Gov Games has been enhancing the culture of teamwork among employees whether in public or private sectors as they work together to train, play, and compete under a one team spirit. It further reaffirms the social cohesion and harmony that characterizes the United Arab Emirates, considering the diversity of the participating teams. This initiative further ignites the spirit of competition and strengthens the determination of the participants to overcome all challenges to achieve their goals.”

Marwan bin Essa, Director of Gov Games, confirmed that all preparations at the site of the event have been completed, and expressed his optimism about the wide participation of government and community teams who look forward to become part of the adventure as they vie for the title, after many months of training and preparations to be able to deliver a strong performance.

Bin Essa remarked that the signing of the sponsorship agreements has paved the way for various entities to collaborate and jointly contribute to the success of an exceptional edition of the games through their various capabilities and advance sport excellence in Dubai and the UAE. “These sponsorships which reiterates our firm commitment to strengthen our cooperation in with strategic partners both from the public and private sectors. It serves as key to spreading the message of Gov Games as a platform to achieve the impossible and motivate people to face challenges and remain committed to oneness in spirit in a team.”

Marwan Ibrahim Nasser, Chairman and Managing Director of Al Tadawi Medical Group, said: 'We are proud to sponsor the Gov Games, and we are highly enthusiastic of what current edition would bring as it opens a new category providing an important opportunity for members of the community to participate and compete at the games along with government teams. It is a major step towards the creation of a modern sports environment which meet the health and happiness aspirations of the community.”

Qualification details:

The qualifying round for the community teams will begin on Thursday, December 9, 2021. A total of 36 teams will go through 9 challenges on 4 lanes in one round. Only 6 teams will be qualified to move to the final stage. For government teams, the men’s teams in the first division will compete also on the same day.

On the second day, the competitions for the women’s teams participating in the Government Entities category will start at 15:00, and 6 teams will compete to qualify to the title on the last day. The second heat will start on the same day at 19:00 for the men’s teams in the Government Entities category; and then 6 best teams from both Men’s teams heats will qualify for the finals the following day.

All qualifiers will compete for the title on the third and final day (Saturday, December 11), and the winners from each category will be crowned at 19:15 pm.

The Gov Games Organizing Committee expressed its appreciation to the cooperation shown by various entities, starting with the Expo 2020 Dubai team, the events security committee and its affiliates from Dubai Police, Roads and Transport Authority, Dubai Health Authority, Dubai Ambulance Corporation and Dubai Civil Defense, in addition to the efforts of the Dubai Media Corporation to broadcast the event live, as well as all the teams on the ground who will contribute to the success of the third edition.

Global safety standards

The committee also assured that safety protocols and standards will be observed during the entire tournament and. All pathways, as well as the swimming pools which have a width of four meters and a depth of 1.5 meters, follow the highest international standards. During the competitions, a lifeguard will be stationed in each swimming pool. Furthermore, all edges are covered with crash mats, whereas the floors are overlaid with sand with about 50 centimeters in thickness.

The competition will be held in a venue developed using 1.8 kilometers of steel props and 640 tons of building materials for the 10 complex obstacles. The venue is the largest of its kind in the region. In addition, 27 towers equipped with 600 lighting units were built within the site. To complete the game elements, the organizers have also placed 4,960 square meters of liners, 51,500 gallons of water, 6,800 square meters of carpet, and 42 trailers in the area.

For more information about Gov Games 2021’s events and news, follow the competition’s accounts on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook (@GovGames) or visit Gov Games website www.govgames.ae