Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi organises Open Bouldering Championships 2023

13 May, 2023

Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi recently hosted the Open Bouldering Championships 2023, the Middle East’s largest climbing competition. The event successfully brought together 160 climbers from 40 countries, marking a significant increase in participants from the region.

The two-day event was defined by an atmosphere of excitement, accompanied by unexpected twists in the results, ultimately leading to a thrilling conclusion during the finals. The Open Bouldering Championships 2023 was proudly sponsored by esteemed entities such as 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 who played a key 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 Sports Department, 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 routesetter, who has been nominated to set during the international events like 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. Despite the triumphs and challenges encountered during the competition, all the climbers exhibited a profound sense of pride and unwavering determination, pushing themselves to their limits in their pursuit of reaching the top.

Following an hour and a half of awe-inspiring climbing, the atmosphere reached its pinnacle as the moment arrived to announce and present the prizes. It became evident that everyone involved, from the athletes to the spectators, had been part of an exceptional and exhilarating event, leaving a lasting impression on everyone who was fortunate enough to be a part of it.