(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) Weight watchers disappointed as Dubai Municipality confirms that this year it will not hold the immensely popular weight in gold contest.
People waiting in a queue to register for ‘Your Weight in Gold initiative’ in 2013.— File photo
Dubai - Slimmers in Dubai will miss the gold this year. And many of them are upset about it.
The Dubai Municipality has confirmed to Khaleej Times that this year it will not hold the immensely popular ‘weight in gold’ contest which had hit headlines globally.
The largest and most expensive public health campaign in the UAE that gave away gold coins to the obese and overweight people for shedding the flab ran for two consecutive summers in Dubai.
Director-General of Dubai Municipality Hussain Nasser Lootah introduced the campaign “Your Weight in Gold” with an open budget during Ramadan 2013. In 2014 the campaign focused on children and families and was named “Your Child in Gold.”
The civic body shelled out nearly Dh9 million to give away a whopping 56kilos of gold bullions to over 10000 winners in the past two years. And together they shed about 54 tonnes of flab in the campaigns.
Many Dubai residents were eagerly to waiting to participate in the third year of the campaign this summer. With the beginning of Ramadan many started enquiring about it with the municipality and the media.
However a senior official on Tuesday confirmed that the civic body will not hold it this year.
“We are not conducting the gold campaign this year ... maybe something else” said Assistant Director-General Khalid Ali bin Zayed.
He did not give any reason for suspending the contest and could not provide details of what else people can look forward to. “We haven’t finalised anything. But we will have some community initiative to promote health of families.”
Bad news
Indian expatriate Sapna Joshi who reduced 11kg last year said it was bad news for people waiting for the campaign. “I have put on 3kg again and I would have definitely participated this year also” said the mother of two girls whose family together won 56grams of gold.
Marcos Evangelista from Philippines who shed 12kg from 113.5kg said he was also planning to take part and reduce the flab further. “When I went to my home country I gained 4kg.”
Evangelista suggested the municipality instead of cancelling the event could look at redefining the prizes and reducing the financial burden on them. “Prizes are indeed very motivating. Instead of rewarding people for losing just 2kg probably they can up the limit to 5kg” he said.
Sharada Serigara the title winner who reduced 32.2kg from 96kg in the 2014 contest said she had not planned to participate again. “I have maintained my weight at 62kg. But my daughter was looking forward to participate.”
She said she was expecting someone else to beat her record but would be happy to know that it will remain in her name unless the municipality comes up with another edition of the contest.
Somesh Chakrabortty who reduced 12kg to be the winner among the child participants said it was unfortunate that the event is not held again. “It was a great incentive and it would have been a great opportunity for many other children also to be motivated to live healthy” said the 14-year-old boy.
Syrian architect Ahmad Ibrahim Al Shiekh who bagged 63 grams of gold to be the winner in 2013 said the municipality deserved a big applause for holding the event for two years.
“I’ve lost 49kilos in two years. They motivated me to take the first step. Many people contacted me after my win and I have been helping them for free. I’m still trying to lose weight but it is indeed a great experience when the whole community works together to do it. I would definitely want to be with the municipality if they are holding it again” he said.