Khorfakkan Disabled Club has announced the launch of tandem cycling, one of the para-cycling disciplines designed for people with visual impairment.
The launch event was attended by Abdullah Saleh Al Naqbi, Chairman of the Club’s Board of Directors, and Engineer Ali Abdullah Makhlouf Al Naqbi, Member of the Municipal Council of Khorfakkan City, along with senior officials from government departments and institutions.
Introducing players to tandem cycling
During the event, male and female athletes were introduced to tandem cycling, including how it is practised, its technical rules, the types of races it features, and the safety and security requirements involved. The sport is based on a two-seat bicycle ridden by a sighted pilot alongside a visually impaired athlete, and it requires a high level of coordination and harmony between the pair. Competitions are held under the umbrella of the Union Cycliste Internationale.
Part of the club’s development strategy
Al Naqbi said the launch of tandem cycling forms part of the club’s strategy to introduce distinctive sports, expand the base of para-sports, and provide an integrated sporting environment that contributes to developing athletes’ abilities and preparing them according to best practices, enhancing their chances of competing and achieving success.
For his part, Dr. Luay Saeed Al Allaei, Vice Chairman of the Club’s Board of Directors, said the inclusion of tandem cycling is a valuable addition to the sports system and reflects the board’s keenness to provide specialised training programmes that help identify talent, refine the skills of male and female athletes, and prepare them to take part in local, regional and international championships in line with the progress of para-sports.