Criminals beware, UAE police are fighting fit for the long run

Twenty-two officers from across the country will take part in the Abu Dhabi International Triathlon, which is one of the biggest of its kind in the world.

DUBAI // American films often portray police officers as lazy and unfit, with some of them more likely to catch a coffee, cigarette or a bagel than a criminal.

But that is far from the case concerning a group of officers from the UAE who will take part in a triathlon on Saturday.

Twenty-two officers of different ranks will take part in this year’s Abu Dhabi International Triathlon, with a view to keeping fit and keeping criminals in check.

“Being fit helps them in pursuing and resolving a problem,” said the group’s manager, Maj Hamza Al Mail, who is also director of the External Activities Section at Dubai Police’s Department of Sports.

“If there’s a problem in the ocean, then we have good swimmers, and if they need to be on a motorcycle, being experienced on a bicycle helps in that matter. Staying fit and healthy is important in our line of duty.”

He said that members of the police force are always advised to stay fit and healthy, whether or not they take part in such events.

“To be healthy and fit is not just for sports,” said Maj Al Mail. “Even if they don’t take part in sports events, we always advise them to be active and go to the gym.”

Speaking about Saturday’s triathlon, he said: “The police has been taking part in such events since the 90s.

“I used to be a player as well until I stopped in 1998. However, I was always keen to keep playing sports, to stay fit and healthy.

“The team has been training for Saturday’s event for a while now – it has been about two months for this specific event.”

And the major said rank was not a factor when it came to sport.

“Once a man is in his sportswear, he is a player and not a lieutenant or captain or any other rank. We take these men as sportsmen and not ranks.”

He said that events such as the Abu Dhabi International Triathlon, which is in its fifth year and is sold out, were becoming more popular in the UAE.

“Although I already think these races are popular in the country, they are gaining more and more popularity every year. The proof for that is that we, in the UAE, are organising them.”

On Friday, there’s a meeting for the organisers during which they will discuss last-minute preparations.

“The meeting is also to make sure we know the track and make sure everything is in order for the players,” said Maj Al Mail. “We also want to make sure that the players are ready and in good spirits.”

A total of 2,400 triathletes from 68 countries are expected to converge on Abu Dhabi Corniche for the event, which is part-organised by Abu Dhabi Police, making it one of the world’s 20 largest triathlons.