Funeral of UAE triathlete killed in Dubai road crash to be celebration of his life

A reception will be held tomorrow in memory of Roy Nasr who was knocked down by a drunk driver last week while training on a bicycle near Safa Park.

UAE triathlete Roy Nasr was killed when a drunk driver hit his bicycle near Safa Park on 6 September 2013. Courtesy TriDubai

DUBAI // The funeral of Arab triathlon champion Roy Nasr will be held tomorrow at St Francis of Assisi Church in Jebel Ali.

Mr Nasr died when he was hit by a car while training on his bicycle near Safa Park in Dubai on Friday morning.

The driver of the car that hit him had been drinking and has since been arrested, Dubai Police said.

A Lebanese expatriate, Mr Nasr, 49, was cycling with two friends when he was knocked down.

One of the cyclists riding with him was also injured.

Mr Nasr, a co-founder of TriDubai, is survived by his wife and two children.

A reception will be held a day later on Wednesday evening at the triathlete's Dubai home, according to a TriDubai Facebook post.

The athlete's wife, Tina, has asked that people celebrate his life instead of mourning him at the informal reception to which all who knew him are invited.

She has requested for guests not wear black but instead don sports gear in his memory.

Mr Nasr has been described as a legend and according to one tribute, he represented Lebanon in the 2006 Asian Games, participated in the 2010 Ironman 70.3 World Championships and the 2011 Sprint Distance World Age Group Championships in China, where he placed third for his age group.

His death has prompted cyclists to renew calls for caution on the roads and respect from motorists.