The International Marine Club will play host to a record 317 competitors participating in 16 categories in the pinnacle of the run-swim-run Biathle which is feeder sport of the Olympic sport of Modern Pentathlon.

UIPM President Dr h.c. Klaus Schormann stated: "This is now the 2nd time Dubai has hosted the Biathle World Championships, and the record number of participants travelling to the Middle East is very impressive. This event, together with UIPM agreeing with the Qatar Olympic Committee to host the next 4 Champion of Champions competitions in Qatar, underlines the growth and development Modern Pentathlon is sustaining in the Middle East which UIPM is capitalising on by opening a UIPM office in Kuwait. I wish all the Biathletes the best of luck on Saturday."

The Biathle race works by the athletes starting in a park start who complete one-half of the total running distance, before entering a 50 meter transition area. Athletes then dive into the water and swim the required swimming distance before exiting the water, putting on their shoes and running the second leg of the run to the finish line. Juniors will run from between 500m and 1000m, then swim between 50 and 100m and then finish the race with the same running distance. Adults run either 1km or 1.5km, swim 100 or 200m and conclude with the same running distance again.

A large crowd is expected at the marina to see the 2nd ever Biathle World Championships take part in the middle east, to see the best Biathle athletes in the world.

The Biathle powerhouses South Africa & Great Britain will again send strong teams to compete for the title of best Biathle nation. Last year in Bulgaria, South Africa won that honour, winning 10 gold medals, just ahead of Great Britain's 7, so the proud British team will be determined to get their title back that won 2 years ago in Dubai.

The Dubai public, and the world wide audience watching on UIPM's live webcast, will see a very familiar face competing in the senior men's event, but it is not who it seems. Tomas Svoboda (CZE), the identical twin brother of Olympic Champion David Svoboda (who will also be in Dubai as a coach) is taking a break from his Ironman competitions to try to and win gold to emulate his famous brother's victory in London.

With last year's Men Senior World Champion Jon Fletcher (GBR) not be making the trip to the Middle East, Svoboda's biggest challenge for the men's gold will be the 2010 Biathle World Champion Richard Stannard (GBR) who has very fond memories of the Dubai course.

The 2011 Women's Biathle World Champion Nicola Roder (GBR) is back to defend her title she won in Bulgaria last year, with her biggest rival Emma Davis (IRE) again lining up in the hope to do one better than the silver she won last year.

India, Australia and Egypt are also sending huge teams to Dubai, with never seen before athletes, so don't be surprised to see a few upsets on Saturday.

Pentathlon and Biathle fans from around the world can follow all the action live by watching Pentathlon.org's exclusive webcast starting from 6:45am local time (+4 GMT) or following the frequently updated results on Pentathlon.org/2012biathleworlds.