By Thamer Al Subaihi www.thenational.ae
DUBAI // France’s “Spiderman” is to climb the world’s tallest twisted tower on Sunday.
Alain Robert, who climbed the world’s tallest manmade structure – the Burj Khalifa – in 2011, arrived in Dubai on Tuesday to begin preparations for the 75-storey ascent of Cayan Tower, in Dubai Marina.
The French climber made his name by scaling some of the world’s tallest and most iconic structures, from the Eiffel Tower to the Empire State Building, and Sydney Opera House to the Petronas Twin Tower, in Kuala Lumpur – all without a safety harness.
Sunday’s climb has been two years in the making for the 52-year-old. Mr Robert had initially been given permission by the developer, Cayan Group, to scale the 307 metre-high building soon after its completion, in 2013. However, that plan fell through after the American broadcasting television network, NBC, pulled out of broadcasting the event live.
“I’ve been waiting to climb this building for a long time because it is a unique challenge,” the Frenchman said.
In this case, said the climber, the building design will make for a tough climb. Issues he will come across include the overhang created by the 90 degree twist between the base and top of the tower, and limited space provided by the ledges. More info
