Dubai, United Arab Emirates – 13 November 2021 – On Saturday, Gatorade ambassador Usain Bolt, one of the greatest athletes of all time, with 11 world champion titles and 8 Olympic gold medals, spent the day at Expo 2020 Dubai, driving fans from across Dubai. By bringing Usain Bolt to Dubai, Gatorade highlights its ongoing commitment to inspire the next generations of athletes on their path to greatness while also demonstrating PepsiCo’s vision of a healthier world, ensuring sports, health and wellbeing is inclusive and accessible to all.
Usain Bolt headlined the Family Run, encouraging everyone to run for a good cause. Free and open to the public, hundreds of runners participated in the Family Run, raising funds for Al Noor Rehabilitation & Welfare Association for People of Determination to support their rehabilitation and training programs and effort to build a brighter future.
Sport-loving students of determination from Al Noor also participated in the Family Run along with their families, running alongside Usain Bolt throughout the 1.45 km track. Commemorating the moment, Usain Bolt posed with the students following the run, to further inspire them to continue pushing boundaries and achieve their goals.
Local heroine, specially-abled Emirati athlete and holder of 17 Special Olympic medals, Hamda Hosani also joined Usain Bolt at the Family Run, fulfilling her lifelong dream of running with the global mega-athlete. Hamda has long been a champion in the local sports scene, encouraging children to believe in themselves and embrace sport. Between Hamda and Al Noor’s students of determination, the Family Run challenged the misconceptions surrounding those with disabilities.
“It has been a pleasure visiting Expo 2020 Dubai and learning more about how Dubai has reimagined the future of mobility, including make it easy and accessible. The Family Run today was a great example of how sports can bring a community together for a good cause. I always tell the young athletes that their possibilities are endless and today’s run, joined by the students of determination from Al Noor and Hamda Hosani, I think we’ve proved that. A big thank you to everyone in Dubai that came down to join us today for the family run. I can’t wait to come back to Dubai in the future!” said Usain Bolt.
“We are so proud to use the global influence of PepsiCo and our brands such as Gatorade, to support the communities we operate in. Throughout Expo 2020 Dubai, we promised to drive positive change and spark joy, both of which we’ve achieved with the Family Run. Through our partnership with the Sports Fitness and Wellbeing Hub, Usain Bolt and, of course, the active citizens of Dubai, we’ve been able to raise money for Al Noor, so they can continue their excellent work with students of determination across Dubai,” said Aamer Sheikh, President and General Manager, MENA and Pakistan.
Sholto Douglas-Home, Chief Sales & MarComms Officer, Expo 2020 Dubai, said: “Sports has always had the power to inspire and connect people regardless of age, gender, nationality or background. It was truly exciting to welcome Usain Bolt, one of the world’s greatest athletes, to Expo 2020 and see him encourage communities to run for a good cause while promoting physical activity as a way of life. Through our partnership with PepsiCo, we are committed to delivering the world’s most diverse and inclusive Expo, and it is through wonderful moments like this that we bring to life our purpose of connecting people to create a better, healthier future for all.”
Usain Bolt also visited the Gatorade The Bolt pavilion, located in the Mobility District, to meet fans and experience the interactions and on-ground activations, including the pop-up GSSI Lab which creates products that are supported by sports science and developed in collaboration with some of the world’s greatest athletes to better meet athlete’s needs.
