Sharjah Hosts Indoor Race for Summer Fitness

Indoor Race Attracts 450 Enthusiasts in Sharjah – Staying Active Despite the Heat

Despite the summer heat, maintaining exercise and an active lifestyle remains important – this was the message conveyed by the indoor running competition held at Sharjah City Centre Al Zahia mall, which brought the community together for the fifth time on July 6, 2025. The event aimed to encourage residents of all ages, especially children, not to abandon the joy of sports during the summer months.

Organized by the Sharjah Sports Council, the race featured three different distances – 800 meters, 4 kilometers, and 8 kilometers – and had a total of 450 participants. Its uniqueness lay in the fact that the entire race took place in a climate-controlled indoor environment on the corridors of the mall, where visitors could watch the runners' performance live.

More than just running: community and educational goals

The event was not an isolated initiative but an integral part of the Sharjah Sports Summer program, which spans the entire month from June 30 to July 31 under the motto "Our Holiday is Different." The series of programs aims to offer a meaningful and entertaining summer for young people in cooperation with sports clubs and various specialized associations.

The program package for age groups between 7–12 and 13–17 years includes not only sports events but activities such as Quran recitation, e-sports, handicrafts, cultural quizzes, and even social sensitivity and educational workshops.

Evaluating the work of sports clubs too

The clubs participating in the summer program are evaluated not only for community participation but also from professional perspectives. A dedicated evaluation committee visits different sports associations and ranks them based on precisely defined criteria. The top three performing sports clubs and three specialized associations will be acknowledged at the end of the month.

The initiative includes participants like Al Sharjah, Al Dhaid, Khor Fakkan, as well as the Sharjah Falconers and Sharjah Self-Defense Sports. Associations for athletes with disabilities and even classic car and marine sports clubs are also involved.

Thematic weeks from creativity to sports

The program is structured into five different themed weeks:

"I Am Creative" – the week of creation and crafts,

"Here is Sharjah" – cultural discoveries,

"I Am the Community" – social responsibility,

"I Am Athletic" – the week of intense sports programs,

"I Am the Future" – development of future-oriented skills.

These weeks not only provide entertainment but also contribute to the personal and community development of young people.

Why is such an initiative important?

The summer heat prompts many to minimize physical activity and retreat to enclosed spaces. Events like indoor runs and themed weeks offer opportunities for community members to stay active – both physically and mentally – even during the heat.

Sharjah sets an example of how infrastructural creativity, community organization, and appropriate programs can support the population's health and mental well-being even in the hottest periods.

(Source: Sharjah Sports Council’s press release.)