Closing of the first version of the initiative "Gemathon Legacy"

ABU DHABI, 12 JANUARY / WAM / The first edition of the “Heritage Gymathon” initiative, organized by the Abu Dhabi Heritage Authority, in cooperation with Abu Dhabi Games and Electronic Sports, concluded yesterday evening in the Authority’s activities building in Abu Dhabi.

The initiative witnessed the participation of more than 200 students from universities, higher colleges of technology and schools, who were divided into 30 teams. Over the course of three days full of creativity and teamwork, the participants presented electronic games inspired by Emirati heritage.

His Excellency Abdullah Mubarak Al Muhairi, Acting Director General of the Abu Dhabi Heritage Authority, His Excellency Saeed Ali Al Fazari, Executive Director of the Strategic Affairs Sector at the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, and His Excellency Abdullah Butti Al Qubaisi, Executive Director of the Heritage Awareness and Knowledge Sector at the Authority, crowned the winners of the first edition, in the presence of the arbitration and guidance committees, and the participants in the initiative.

The initiative recorded intense creative competition between the participating teams, as the students worked to design and develop prototypes of interactive electronic games whose elements and stories were inspired by the Emirati cultural heritage, and combined heritage authenticity with the tools and technologies of the digital age.

In its current version, the initiative focused on the topics of desert physiognomy and cycling, with competitors presenting works inspired by them. It included introductory sessions and heritage tours, in addition to explaining the heritage aspects related to the initiative, and following up on the stages of programming and technical development for the games, which gave participants the opportunity to deepen their knowledge of national heritage and present it in modern, creative methods that address the interests of the digital generation.

At the conclusion of the initiative, the jury evaluated the participating projects according to a set of criteria that had been previously approved, and the winning teams in the first five places were announced, with the total value of the prizes reaching 100 thousand dirhams.

The organization of the “Gymathon Heritage” initiative comes within the framework of efforts aimed at employing modern technologies and electronic games as an innovative means of transmitting the Emirati heritage to new generations, enhancing its sustainability, and consolidating the national identity in an interactive manner that keeps pace with digital transformations and addresses the local and global audience.

• For more: Follow Khaleejion 24 Arabic, Khaleejion 24 English, Khaleejion 24 Live, and for social media follow us on Facebook and Twitter