Dubai Fitness Championship Cuts Ties with CrossFit
The Dubai Fitness Championship announced on October 8 they will no longer be an official CrossFit licensed event, effective immediately, ending a years-long partnership with CrossFit. The event will return to its original name for this year’s competition, which goes Dec. 2-4.
- “It’s in the best interest of both,” said Saud Alshamsi, the director of the Dubai Fitness Championship in a statement to Morning Chalk Up.
The big picture: Dubai’s decision to part ways with CrossFit is based, in part, on not seeing the return value for the licensing fee said Alshamsi, which echoes similar concerns shared by North American semifinal event organizers.
One big thing: Dubai is not only one of the three largest and most significant off-season competitions, but they were also the first-ever sanctioned event announced shortly after the 2018 CrossFit Games as part of the new Sanctional season structure which existed for the 2019 and 2020 Games seasons.
- Over the last 10 years, the event has made Dubai a fitness hub and destination in the middle east.
- Dubai has featured star-studded rosters of former Games champions and legends in the sport like Mathew Fraser, Brent Fikowski, Annie Thorisdottir, Patrick Vellner, Sara Sigmundsdottir and Sam Briggs.
- As one of the biggest and most storied off-season competitions, Dubai’s decision to part ways could carry some implications for other events in similar situations.
- While licensing fees vary depending on what tier of partnership an event chooses from CrossFit, events have reportedly paid between $25,000 and $50,000 to host a Semifinal. The lowest tier for being a licensed event costs $1,000, which allows the event to use the CrossFit name and logo.
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