Controversial new sport, RUNIT, to go ahead with Dubai event despite rising tensions in the Middle East
Despite the increasing tensions in the Middle East, the most controversial new sport on the planet is going ahead with its planned eight-man elimination tournament in Dubai.
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The next instalment of the controversial new tackling sport, RUNIT, will go ahead in Dubai this weekend despite serious warnings about travelling to the United Arab Emirates.
Tensions in the Middle East remain high after Iran launched a series of retaliatory strikes at a US military base in Qatar on Monday.
Flights in and out of Dubai International Airport were temporarily suspended as the UAE briefly closed its airspace on Monday night, while several airlines – including Qantas – have been forced to suspend and divert flights bound for the Middle East.
Meanwhile, numerous flights from Australia heading to Qatar and Europe have been diverted or turned back to their original destinations.
Despite the risk of increasing tensions in the region, Melbourne-based company, RUNIT, will forge ahead with its planned eight-man elimination tournament at The Agenda in Dubai this Saturday night.
A small group of RUNIT personnel arrived in the UAE on Monday, while a larger contingent – including the competitors, who are from Australia and New Zealand – all departed Melbourne on Tuesday morning.
The second group is flying into Abu Dhabi, an hour drive south of Dubai.
It comes as the Australian government’s Smartraveller website warned about the dangers of travelling to the region.
“Conflict in the Middle East could impact safety and security elsewhere,” a warning said. “There is a risk of reprisal attacks and further escalation.
“If you travel to or through the Middle East, you may be unable to leave if conflict escalates.
“Local security situations could get worse with little warning.
“Flights can change or stop at short notice. Roads and borders can close.”
RUNIT 02 in Dubai boasts a whopping $200,000 prize for first place, while second place takes home $50,000 and third place pockets $25,000.
The prize money pool comes from seed investment and sponsorship agreements, according to a RUNIT spokesman.
RUNIT is also covering the travel and accommodation costs for each competitor.
The Dubai event will take place just one month after a New Zealand teenager died playing a version of the Run it Straight style challenge with friends.
Nineteen year old Ryan Satterthwaite passed away after suffering a traumatic brain injury while participating in a casual Run it Straight challenge in Palmerston North.
An online sensation with tens of millions of views across social media, RUNIT sells itself as “the world’s fiercest, new collision sport,” and sees two competitors – an attacker with a rugby ball, and a defender – run at each other from opposite ends of a 20m “battlefield.”
“Victory belongs to the one who dominates the collision,” the RUNIT website says.
The craze has gained a massive following online, but has as many detractors, with CTE experts, Rugby Australia, New Zealand Rugby League and the Warriors all distancing themselves from it.
RUNIT organisers stress they have medical professionals at all of their events and provide testing before and after contests.
They also provide expert coaching on tackling technique and timing as the company tries to make their sport more legitimate.
“The athletes selected for RUNIT 02 were selected and screened before the event by our Athlete Manager, a former Victorian rugby player,” RUNIT’s spokesperson told Code Sports.
“All athletes must have experience in rugby union or rugby league or similar and understand the rules and risks associated with the RUNIT Championship event.
“We will have qualified medical support on-site in Dubai and there will be medical assessments conducted by a doctor before, during and after competition.”
Women’s State of Origin star Kennedy Cherrington is the latest big name to criticise the concept, saying the big hits should be left to the professionals.
“We’re seeing people who don’t know the protocols around collisions, landing safely, head knocks – all these things that we’re taught in the sport,” the New South Wales forward said on her Cherries on Top Podcast.
“It comes off the back of recent events, sadly, with a young teen passing away in Palmerston North. They were running their own Run it Straight challenge.
“It’s sad.
“It’s frustrating that it’s off the back of these events.
“We feel strongly about it, because it’s our sport in a different light.
“What I don’t like, everyone’s got their video cameras up. Thousands of people around, two people running it straight.
“When they’re getting knocked out, people are there, fitting on the ground, I can’t stand that.”
Originally published as Controversial new sport, RUNIT, to go ahead with Dubai event despite rising tensions in the Middle East
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