Sports fans and skate enthusiasts enjoyed a thrilling climax to the Park Pro Tour Stop at Dubai Harbour on Sunday evening as some of the world’s greatest skateboarders clinched their places at this summer’s Olympic Games in Paris.
Hosted by World Skate and Arada, the Park Pro Tour Stop was the final destination on the Road to Paris 2024 – with 194 athletes from 39 countries including the US, Australia, Brazil, and Japan seeking to qualify.
Following four days of thrilling action across the qualification, quarter-final, and semi-final stages, the scene was set for a series of epic showdowns featuring the remaining participants in Sunday’s finale – where sporting excellence unfolded as promised.
Eight skateboarders went head-to-head in both the men’s and women’s finals with the prize of representing their countries at the grandest stage of them at stake. Spain’s Danny Leon won the men’s Park Pro Tour Stop and fellow Spanish star Naia Laso sealed victory in the women’s.
Gavin Bottger of the United States and Viktor Solmunde of Denmark finished second and third in the men’s whilst Japanese duo Kokona Hiraki and Mizuho Hasegawa claimed top three positions in the women’s final.
The Park Pro Stop forms back-to-back World Skate Tour events alongside the Street Pro Tour Stop – with the two welcoming 430 athletes from a record-breaking 65 countries worldwide.
In partnership with Dubai Sports Council (DSC) and Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), alongside venue partner Shamal Holding and under the patronage of Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed, chairman of DSC, the competitions collectively represent one of the UAE’s biggest, most significant sporting events in 2024.
With the Park Pro Tour Stop officially over, attentions now turn to the Street Pro Tour Stop that began on Sunday and runs for eight days until next Sunday, March 10.
Once again, final qualification is up for grabs ahead of Paris 2024, where the world’s best skateboarders will face off in two of the most popular and spectacular skate disciplines – park and street. The male and female competitions in Paris will feature participating athletes with medals, pride, and legacy awaiting a select few.
Tickets for the Street Pro Tour Stop at Dubai Harbour are exclusively available through Virgin Radio and fans can register on the Virgin Radio website to be in with a chance of attending.
Visitors are reminded of the drop-off-only policy at Dubai Harbour, with journeys by taxi or public transport recommended. For more information about the competitions, visit the World Tour events page on the Arada website.
Vidaamuyarchi
Director: Magizh Thirumeni
Stars: Ajith Kumar, Arjun Sarja, Trisha Krishnan, Regina Cassandra
Rating: 4/5
The President's Cake
Director: Hasan Hadi
Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem
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Director: James Gray
Stars: Brad Pitt, Tommy Lee Jones
Five out of five stars
The National Archives, Abu Dhabi
Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.
Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en
Islamophobia definition
A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.
TEACHERS' PAY - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:
- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools
- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say
- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance
- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs
- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills
- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month
- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues
The specs: 2019 Haval H6
Price, base: Dh69,900
Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 197hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: 315Nm @ 2,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 7.0L / 100km
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
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Results
6.30pm: Maiden Dh165,000 (Dirt) 1,400m. Winner: Rio Angie, Pat Dobbs (jockey), Doug Watson (trainer).
7.05pm: Handicap Dh170,000 (D) 1,600m. Winner: Trenchard, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
7.40pm: Maiden Dh165,000 (D) 1,600m. Winner: Mulfit, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
8.15pm: Handicap Dh210,000 (D) 1,200m. Winner: Waady, Dane O’Neill, Doug Watson.
8.50pm: Handicap Dh210,000 (D) 2,000m. Winner: Tried And True, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
9.25pm:Handicap Dh185,000 (D) 1,400m. Winner: Midnight Sands, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
