Dubai chosen as first city to host the return of Bloomberg Square Mile Relay series with new race format

The Bloomberg Square Mile Relay Dubai is back after a two-year absence and is set to take place on Wednesday, 9^th February 2022 at the iconic Gate Building, Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC). 

The popular event has been operated by Square Mile Sport and hosted at one of the Emirate’s fastest growing and leading lifestyle destinations, DIFC, annually since 2016. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic the 2021 race couldn’t take place.

Next year’s race – in its sixth edition - will have an exciting new format in response to the pandemic and to ensure the highest levels of health and safety for participants. The race organisers will use a new time trial format for runners to clock their fastest 1-mile time individually. Each runner’s time will be aggregated with fellow participants from their respective firm to find out who is the ‘Fastest Firm in Dubai’.

The event will once again see the city’s business community come together for a teambuilding relay race that also raises money for local causes. From its humble begins of just 500 participants making up 50 teams, the relay has doubled in size and stature.

The Bloomberg Square Mile Relay Dubai has become an important event in the UAE’s calendar. In 2019 it was included in the top 10 of the Dubai Sports Council’s (DSC) Sports Events Ranking System with the likes of the Emirates Airline Dubai Rugby Sevens and the Dubai World Cup.

Speaking about the race, Square Mile Sport’s Managing Director James Hassett said, “The Bloomberg Square Mile Relay has always had a unique place in the hearts of Dubai’s business community. February’s race will see many of Dubai’s biggest institutions come together again for another unparalleled opportunity to get their employees physically active, to build team spirit, and ultimately have some fun. Our team has been working closely and diligently with our local partners, as well as following the latest medical and safety advice to ensure it will be a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone.”

In addition to the Square Mile Relay races, Square Mile Sport also run a successful online wellness platform in partnership with Bloomberg. The Bloomberg Square Mile Virtual Club platform creates opportunities for Bloomberg to reconnect with its global community in an active, fun and engaging way through virtual fitness and wellbeing challenges. 

He added: “As a company, we had to adapt our business to the new working conditions that were brought about by the coronavirus. We felt that in this new climate our values of teamwork, connectivity and wellbeing harnessed through purpose-driven shared experiences that were the foundation of our Bloomberg Square Mile Relay global series, were now even more relevant and important to people and businesses.

“Whilst we have really enjoyed putting on the virtual events on the Virtual Club over the last 15 months, we’re really excited to be back delivering the Bloomberg Square Mile Relay again starting in Dubai.”

To find out more about the Bloomberg Square Mile Relay Dubai or the Virtual Club, visit: https://squaremilerelay.com/dubai/

About Bloomberg Square Mile Relay

The Bloomberg Square Mile Relay is a one-of-a-kind, immersive team building experience, which uniquely takes place in the heart of financial districts in 12 cities around the world. You and nine co-workers take it in turn to run an unconventional and exciting one-mile lap, helping unlock US$25,000 through the Virtual Club for The Extra Mile Program, which supports projects in local communities. After you’ve taken on your business rivals and earned your bragging rights for the year, your team can kick back at the after party, enjoy complimentary hospitality in the Race Village and celebrate at the After-Party. Your lap. Your cause. Your impact.

About the Bloomberg Square Mile Virtual Club

The Bloomberg Square Mile Virtual Club is an innovative online global corporate wellbeing platform where colleagues from around the world can unlock charitable donations for local causes by participating in virtual races and challenges. You train. You earn. We donate.

About Square Mile Sport

Square Mile Sport is the event owner and delivery agency of the Bloomberg Square Mile Relay – a unique event series designed exclusively to provide businessmen and women with an outlet for their sporting passion. Established in 2007 in London, Square Mile Sport plans to replicate the event in cities across the world. It is also the owner and operator of the Bloomberg Square Mile Virtual Club, an innovative digital platform that brings corporate professional from across the world together through shared activity and wellbeing.

In July 2020, Square Mile Sport launched a new online wellness platform in partnership with Bloomberg – the Bloomberg Square Mile Virtual Club. The platform enables corporates anywhere in the world to compete with and against each other in virtual races and fitness challenges across 13 different activities including running, swimming, yoga and weight training. Points accrued from their physical activity are converted into credits which can be used to vote for donations to a local cause in their city. From nothing the Virtual Club has grown to over 5,600 members from over 75 countries worldwide, representing nearly 400 different companies.

Square Mile Sport is wholly owned by Benchmark Sport, which operates leading international brands including the Sport Industry Group and Beyond Sport. www.squaremilerelay.com

About Bloomberg

Bloomberg, the global business and financial information and news leader, gives influential decision makers a critical edge by connecting them to a dynamic network of information, people and ideas. The company’s strength – delivering data, news and analytics through innovative technology, quickly and accurately – is at the core of the Bloomberg Terminal. Bloomberg’s enterprise solutions build on the company’s core strength: leveraging technology to allow customers to access, integrate, distribute and manage data and information across organizations more efficiently and effectively. For more information, visit www.bloomberg.com

Website: www.squaremilerelay.com/dubai   

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Official hashtag: #RunForYourCity