El Gouna, one of the fully integrated towns in the Red Sea, is hosting the world’s most famous obstacle course challenge, Tough Mudder, on 6 May, reports Abeer Anwar.

The international sports event is held in more than 30 countries around the world and is back in Egypt and for the first time in the Red Sea.

Obstacle course races and challenges (also known as OCRs) have been gaining popularity internationally over the past decade, encouraging amateur athletes of all ages and abilities to test their mental and physical strength in a fun and exciting atmosphere.

Some OCRs are competitive while others are purely for the enjoyment of participants, choosing to promote a spirit of camaraderie and achievement. Tough Mudder falls into the latter category, and since its introduction in Egypt in 2019, the event has witnessed thousands of participants taking part in and completing the challenge.

In addition to its classic 5K distance, the event, in collaboration with The TriFactory, will also include Mini Mudder, a fun challenge for kids ages 8-13 who enjoy pushing their limits and getting muddy.

“Tough Mudder is a global sports brand that we’ve been organising in Egypt for the past four years with great results,” says Ayman Hakki, founder & CEO of The TriFactory. “We’ve worked hard to take this event outside of Cairo and we’ve found the perfect partner in El Gouna, the home of our annual El Gouna Half Marathon and an amazing seaside destination that’s fun for the entire family. We’re excited to organise the event on 6 May and to hopefully turn it into another annual event on El Gouna’s calendar.”

Tough Mudder Egypt is staged under the auspices of the Ministry of Youth and Sports which has steadfastly supported the event since its introduction in Egypt. Minister of Youth and Sports Ashraf Sobhi attended two editions of the event, in 2020 and 2021.  

“El Gouna is a trendsetter and a pioneer in creating a lively environment for their residents; thus, we were keen to be hosting Tough Mudder for the first time in the Red Sea,” Mohamed Ashour, El Gouna’s head of commercial and business development, said.

“This step comes to promote tourism through diverse sports activities and encouraging athletes and residents of El Gouna of all ages to enjoy a fun and inspiring experience which reinforces our unrelenting vision in creating fully-integrated vibrant towns,” Ashour said, adding that Mini Mudder will bring families together “in a new and spirited experience”.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 21 April, 2022 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.