Urban Challenge to kick off today on Jeddah Corniche

192 team members are ready to battle it out to be the first winners of the Urban Challenge, with competitors taking part in five activities: football, basketball, karting, paintball and gaming. Each team will consist of six to eight members, aged between 15 and 25. The overall competition will be based on a point-scoring system with first prize going to the team with the most points collected across all five activities.

Competitions among the registered teams will be during 3 to 5 December and 9 to 11 December. In addition to the these competitions, there will be plenty of different daily activities to entertain the public including a graffiti art challenge, PlayStation video games, skate-boarders, BMX riders, a Fox Movie lounge, and special auditions to become a Rotana TV channel presenter.

Hossein Hassani, Regional Marketing Manager for General Motors - Middle East Operations, said:

"We feel we have a responsibility towards our region's young people. We want the Urban Challenge to provide young people in Jeddah with something fun to do in their spare time that is also beneficial and allows them to pursue and enjoy their hobbies. Sporting activities are the perfect way to do this, as they promote health and fitness, while at the same time encouraging participants to be disciplined in their actions and to respect the spirit of fair competition, while working constructively with their fellow team members."

Hassani added, "GM has always recognised the importance of the contribution young people in the Gulf and across the Middle East. The next stage in the Urban Challenge tour will see this exciting new event move on to Abu Dhabi between the 15th and 23rd January 2009, where it will once again offer youngsters the opportunity to take part in both sporting activities and the 'Urban Car Show'."

The Jeddah stage of the 'Urban Car Show' will take place on the 10th and 11th of December, and will see participants showcasing the best that the customized car world has to offer. GM has announced that some 50 participants have already registered through the website. Additional participants still have time to register at the Urban Challenge website.

Participants can enter their cars in the "In-Style" category, which will focus on customized interiors, including in-car entertainment, personalization, material upgrades and add-on accessories, or in the "Out-Fit" modifications category, which will showcase paint jobs, body kit/enhancements, graphics and add-on accessories. There will be a winner in each category, and participants can enrol their cars in both categories.

The 'Urban Car Show' competition is open to any customized Chevrolet, GMC, Hummer or Cadillac. Modifications will have to be in good taste, should not break any laws, and should conform with the religious and cultural values of the Kingdom. The vehicles must be deemed safe and road-worthy.