Sports stars choose to train in Dubai as they prepare to compete again

Some of the world’s sports stars say they chose to stay and train in Dubai during the pandemic because of the city’s excellent sports facilities.

Frenchman Pierre Gasly, who drives for Scuderia AlphaTauri, stayed in the emirate for two months after the postponement of the Bahrain Grand Prix, in which he was supposed to compete. 

Even when gyms were closed, Gasly said he was able to train, thanks to the staff at FIVE Palm Jumeirah, who set up a gym for him in an empty apartment near the hotel.

Italian golfer Renato Paratore also chose to stay in Dubai to train at the Jumeirah Golf Estates, impressed by the health and safety regulations put in place at golf facilities. 

And back in March, a number of Chinese football teams, who were in town for their off-season training, decided to stay in the emirate, confident that the government’s handling of COVID-19 would protect them from the virus.