Got children to entertain? With the long, hot summer ahead, it can be tempting to stick the little tykes in front of the DVD player with a stack of box sets that’s as tall as they are. But, of course, that wouldn’t count as responsible parenting. Instead, why not get them exercising, learning some new skills and bonding with their brothers and sisters? A trip to Zayed Sports City will tick all of those boxes. The sports centre is fast becoming a hub for families to spend time together practising healthy pursuits, and is offering a special ‘Beat the Heat’ deal throughout the whole summer; a (reasonably priced) day’s entrance to the sports centre, allows unlimited access to almost all of Zayed Sports City’s facilities. Vivien Moon asks ZSC’s Maria Gedeon to explain how families can beat the heat this summer.
How will you be managing outdoors sports activities, considering it will be so hot during the day?
We have expanded our working hours, so now we open at 6am and stay open until 1am. People can come earlier if they want to play sports outdoors in the morning, or later in the cooler hours – they can even come early to play, go home, and then come back again later in the evening as long as they keep their wristbands on.
What is the most popular activity you have?
Ice skating is very popular during summer, because it is such a cool venue and you get the feel of winter. We also sell hats and gloves that people enjoy wearing. The ice rink has new and exciting activities such as karaoke and disco on ice, and throughout the promotional period there will be special performances by SpongeBob SquarePants, The Chipettes, Kung Fu Panda, and Tom from Tom and Jerry.
Is there anything on offer for children who don’t want to play sport, and who have been dragged along by their more active brothers and sisters?
There is a chill-out area for kids with arts and crafts. They go and sit down, and they’re given everything they need to while away a few hours. There are also multiple restaurants open for snacking too.
In what ways is ZSC going to be emphasising the social aspect of sports this summer?
Sports such as bowling are naturally social, and they increase participation. After taking part, more families buy memberships, so this brings everyone together. There are opportunities for everybody to come and have fun; we have ladies-only classes also. We’ve noticed recently that the amount of Emirati families that are taking part in activities has grown too. It’s a community place at the end of the day, and people can make it a fabulous day out.
And are there any perks for grown-ups?
There is a licensed club house where parents can go and have a good meal while the kids are playing around. In the club house, we have board games such as Jenga, Pictionary, and Scrabble to keep the kids busy. All the usual adult sports facilities are available and, of course, the Haddins gym is super popular with adults who like to work out.
Plenty of activities are on offer, including ice skating, bowling, table tennis, football, rugby and softball. A full day at Zayed Sports City costs Dhs50 per day for children under 16, Dhs100 per day for adults and Dhs200 per day for a family of up to five members (02 403 4200).
