The organisers of the controversial Run It competition have announced its final will be moved from Auckland to Dubai, offering a prize of $200,000 to the winner.
It comes amid calls for the activity to be banned.
Brain health experts have been highly critical of the events, and criticisms of it have grown following the death of a 19-year-old, who was killed while playing an impromptu version of the game, which had been popularised on social media.
In a post to Instagram, the Australia-based Runit Championship League, which organised two events in Auckland, revealed its final would be held in Dubai instead of Auckland later this month.
George Burgess, a former NRL star and England international who had been working with the organisation, told NZ Herald the organisation would pay for the finalists’ flights to the Middle East.
Run It held two trial events at Trusts Arena last month, where the winners took home $20,000.
The venue pulled out of hosting the final, citing safety concerns.
Run It advertised itself as the world’s “fiercest, new collision sport”.
Participants compete in full-contact collisions without protective gear, running at each other and attempting to “dominate the collision”.
The game came under increased scrutiny following the death of 19-year-old Ryan Satterthwaite, who died in hospital after suffering a serious head injury playing an impromptu version of it.
Its arrival on New Zealand shores led to worries about brain injuries.
Stacey Mowbray, chief executive of brain injury support group Headway, called the activity “dangerous by design”, describing it on Breakfast as “glamorised, glorified, intentional violence”.
Stacey Mowbray of Headway said Ryan Satterthwaite’s death was an “absolute tragedy” but wasn’t surprised it happened. (Source: 1News)
“There is no way to do this safely.”
She said the activity carried a risk of “immediate brain injury” or death for the participants
Following Satterthwaite’s death, RUNIT said its events followed established protocols, which included the screening of participants for suitability, strict guidelines around where and how to tackle (between the shoulders and hips only), as well as having medical support and assessments both during and after competition.
“Any contact sport like boxing, martial arts or combat-style activities should only be held in highly controlled environments, which include professional medical supervision and support.
“We do not encourage any copying of the sport as it should only be done under the strict conditions outlined above in sanctioned RUNIT events.”
