The Spartan World Championship will return to Abu Dhabi this year with an even tougher obstacle course designed to test the mettle of some of the planet’s most determined athletes.
This is the second year that the capital will be hosting the race organised by Spartan, a leading endurance sports and extreme wellness brand.
The two-day championship will kick off on December 3 at a new site in Al Wathba. The race venue — Al Wathba, a Luxury Collection Desert Resort and Spa — is located half an hour outside of Abu Dhabi City. The course will be plotted out in desert terrain.
The best Spartan athletes — who will qualify throughout the racing season — will go head to head in the men’s and women’s individual World Championship Super on Saturday, December 3, competing for more than $125,000 in total prize money.
The Team World Championship Super will be held on Sunday, December 4.
But the programme wasn't developed with only the elite in mind.
Families and Spartans of all ages have the chance to compete in various tournaments, including the Age Group World Championship Beast, Open Beast, Open Team Super and Kids Open.
“We’re excited to be back in Abu Dhabi after an unreal first year in the desert,” Joe De Sena, Spartan founder and chief executive, said. “We’re putting together a new course that will be one of our hardest yet — whoever leaves with the title is going to earn it.
“But just as important is the opportunity for all our Spartans to challenge themselves on the same course as the Elites. If you join us in Abu Dhabi, you’ll leave a different person. You’ll unlock your physical and mental potential. It’s possible thanks to the continued support of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council.”
Athletes in the Elite and competitive Age Group divisions can qualify through race series held in 14 countries, two regional championships, or at various wild card events throughout the year.
There are no qualifications for the Open Beast (set over 21 kilometres with 30 obstacles), Open Team Super, Open Super (10k, 25 obstacles) or Open Kids divisions.
Aref Hamad Al Awani, Abu Dhabi Sports Council General Secretary, said that hosting the Spartan World Championship fits within the council’s philosophy of supporting and promoting a healthy lifestyle.
“It was a great honour and prestige for Abu Dhabi to host the Spartan World Championship, and we are absolutely thrilled the endurance event is returning to the capital city for the second time in two years,” he said. “This event allows the elite athletes as well as participants at all levels, from men, women and the juniors, to compete. It encourages and creates awareness among the community to lead an active lifestyle to prepare for the competition.”
Last year, Abu Dhabi became the first city outside the US to host the Spartan World Championship. The event took place in the Liwa Desert to coincide with the UAE's Golden Jubilee.
It comprised three events ― the Spartan Kids World Championship, the Elite Spartan World Championship and the Spartan Team World Championship.
Canadian power couple Ryan Atkins and Lindsay Webster topped the podium of the championship. Atkins finished in 2:13:40 to take the men’s World Championship Beast while Webster finished in 2:38:54 to win the women’s World Championship Beast. Meanwhile, France edged out Russia and Canada in 1:09:39 to win the Super 10K, 25-obstacle World Championship Team race.
Athletes can register for the World Championships, and find out more information, at race.spartan.com/en/race/championships/world
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
Fixtures
Friday Leganes v Alaves, 10.15pm; Valencia v Las Palmas, 12.15am
Saturday Celta Vigo v Real Sociedad, 8.15pm; Girona v Atletico Madrid, 10.15pm; Sevilla v Espanyol, 12.15am
Sunday Athletic Bilbao v Getafe, 8.15am; Barcelona v Real Betis, 10.15pm; Deportivo v Real Madrid, 12.15am
Monday Levante v Villarreal, 10.15pm; Malaga v Eibar, midnight
