Sorbonne Abu Dhabi organises Open Bouldering Championships

ABU DHABI / WAM

Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi  hosted the Open Bouldering Championships 2023, the Middle East’s largest climbing competition. The two-day event successfully brought together 160 climbers from 40 countries, marking a significant increase in regional participation.
The Open Bouldering Championships 2023 was sponsored by the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, The North Face, ADISL, Traks Pro, Two Pandas, and Nirvana. Furthermore, the event was supported by the Saudi Climbing and Hiking Federation which played a crucial role in securing IFSC-certified judges for the championships.
The competition had eight categories, with prizes and medals awarded to the winners for each of the men’s and women’s open categories, male and female Mena nationals, Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi’s students and staff, the youth (15-17 years old) category, and the kids and veterans categories.
Alexandre Blaise, Head of the Sports Department, at Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi, commented, “This event is a testament to our commitment to creating an environment that encourages physical fitness and the spirit of competition. We are dedicated to offering our students the best sports programmes and facilities to ensure they are able to unlock their full potential”.
Magdalena Nowak Sports Lecturer at Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi who managed the championship commented saying, “We are glad to organise  the largest bouldering championship in the region, which was a great opportunity for many climbers to participate for the first time in an International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC) bouldering competition format. The event was particularly unique as boulder problems have been created by a team under the supervision of Tomasz Oleksy, IFSC route setter, who has been nominated to set during international events like the Climbing World Cup in Innsbruck and World Championships in Bern.”
The qualifiers, semi-finals, and finals presented a captivating scene for the audience, athletes, and spectators alike. The competitors encompassed climbers of diverse levels and ages, ranging from talented young climbers on the rise to experienced veterans of the sport.
At the finals, the pressure was immense, as the competitors had to use every bit of strength, skill, and strategy in order to attain the best scores for themselves.