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Dubai Sports Council supports UAE's first ever sports-centred virtual reality arcade

Dubai - The 75,000 sq. ft. VR Park complex is yet another in a long line of truly imaginative and interactive developments from Emaar Entertainment

The official launch of VR SPORTS was held in presence of Saeed Hareb, secretary general of Dubai Sports Council.
International innovative digital agency ARKÜB Interactive launched the very first all-sports virtual reality arcade in the country, located in the state-of-the-art Virtual Reality Theme Park in Dubai Mall. VR SPORTS is a one-stop-shop for sports fans and active families, where enthusiasts of all ages can challenge themselves and their friends and family to over 20 VR games, including basketball, football, skiing, golf, and cricket. Competitions and activities designed for everyone will start next month, in time for the World Cup.
VR will change the sports scene forever. "It will help in making workouts more effective, and athletes won't even have to step out of their homes to train", notes Saeed Hareb. "VR Sports is a great new addition to Dubai's sport scene, not just for virtual reality enthusiasts, but also sports professionals who are looking to improve their game. A number of studies in recent years have confirmed how virtual reality helps foster a better understanding of sports performance, becoming an integral part of training for sports teams and individuals. So we at Dubai Sports Council are looking forward to working with VR Sports in our efforts to further enhance the sporting landscape of Dubai, and add exciting new technological advances like VR."
Arindam Kunar, chief operating officer, Emaar Entertainment, welcomed the event and praised the innovative idea. "We are confident that VR SPORTS attraction at VR Park will be very popular among Dubai Mall customers."
The 75,000 sq. ft. VR Park complex is yet another in a long line of truly imaginative and interactive developments from Emaar Entertainment. It was the ideal location to set up the first VR SPORTS arcade in the region - the brainchild of the creative minds behind the interactive agency, who are are not at their first project in the sports industry. "The fit was just natural," says Hind Sergieh, managing director of ARKÜB in Dubai. "The VR Park is geared towards the newest and most innovative ideas in virtual reality today. We plan to enhance the experience on a regular basis by integrating new content as users expectations are growing exponentially towards VR and the sports industry is transforming."
It is with the vision of continuous enhancement in mind that hardware leaders such as Canon Middle-East have been approched to join forces on the initiative. "The unique capabilities of our high definition projectors create an immersive gaming experience with crisp images projected in exquisite detail which is what ARKÜB required to integrate the real and virtual world," said Venkatasubramanian Hariharan, B2C Business Unit Director at Canon Middle East. "The solution is not only limited to projection but also includes a web interface which can involve online communities to the gaming experience, seamlessly bridging the gap between physical and digital. We are excited about this partnership to deliver a unique VR experience."