Startup incubator in5 has announced that UAE-based technology firm inphota has launched a series of digital fitness challenges to inspire the nation to stay healthy and active indoors.
The free virtual fitness contests provide a way of rewarding those who stay healthy and active with at-home runs, cycles and workouts, whilst adhering to the national stay at home directive.
The UAE witnessed significant growth in the number of people participating in sport last year, rising by 64% year-on-year, according to inphota. However, with events postponed, athletes and fitness enthusiasts could begin to lose the motivation to exercise without a goal event to build towards.
Having completed a research study of more than 10,000 mass participation attendees inphota learned that the primary motivation factors for participants choosing to enter an event were:
- Health improvement (25%)
- Enjoyment of race-day experience and course (15%)
- Recognition and rewards (9%)
To provide this impetus, Dubai-based startup inphota, which has been part of TECOM Group’s innovation incubator in5 since September 2019, has created a digital sport contest.
in5 operates three purpose-built innovation centres – in5 Tech in Dubai Internet City, in5 Media in Dubai Production City, and in5 Design in Dubai Design District. They feature high-end, specialised facilities with co-working spaces, meeting rooms, multi-purpose halls, prototyping labs with 3D printers and modern machinery, as well as education and production studios. The public are invited to use these resources as part of in5’s commitment to encourage innovation.
Members also have unrivalled access to investment opportunities alongside a stream of mentorship and sustainability-focused seminars, training sessions and workshops that in5 has moved online to continue its support for startups.
inphota’s virtual challenges kick-off this month in partnership with UAE-based event management company Gulf Multi Sport. They encourage participants to compete in fitness challenges with their performance tracked by a mobile phone or wearable device.
The finish time is displayed on a leaderboard, allowing events to run and rewards to be granted to those who participate, providing a dynamic alternative to public events and mass gatherings.
Andrew Laity, CEO and Co-Founder of inphota, said: “Our aim is to provide a way to motivate UAE residents to continue improving their health by creating digital events that incorporate key aspects of a physical event experience at home. The challenges provide an incentive to keep training by creating an opportunity for participants to receive rewards for the completion of at-home workouts. We are grateful of in5’s continued support which has enabled Dubai-based startups such as ours to contribute to the vision of the UAE.”
The challenges form an extension of inphota’s event registration platform, allowing athletes to collect reward points for inspire, the first programme in the UAE to incentivise participation in sporting activity. It was also created by inphota.
The series of sporting challenges running throughout the summer combine inphota’s digital technology and Gulf Multi Sport’s events management expertise to deliver a programme of events to help athletes and fitness enthusiast stay motivated working out at home.
The challenges are free to enter. To view available virtual challenges in Arabic and English and register for events, please visit. Inphota.com/events
