UAE champions ‘determination’ tag for Special Olympians

ABU DHABI: The United Arab Emirates, slated to become the first Arab country to host the Special Olympics in 2019, is championing an alternative label for those with special needs: “People of Determination”.

Arab athletes used to being called “special needs” – or even derogatory terms like “retarded” in their home countries – were surprised and excited this week to see welcome signs with the new label at the 9th Middle East and North Africa ( MENA) Regional Games in Abu Dhabi.

The term, seen everywhere from handicapped accessible boardwalks to the Abu Dhabi exhibition centre, is one the UAE hopes will catch on beyond its borders.

Matar Saeed al-Naimi, president of the health committee for the 2018 MENA competition, says the games also offer a venue to educate local society.

Groups of Emirati elementary school age children were a fixture at the MENA games, brought in with their teachers to attend various sports events.

“They are still young and they are the future, so it is very important for the UAE to teach this generation who are the ‘ people of determination’ and what they are capable of doing,” Naimi told AFP.

“The goal is a united society,” he said.

On Tuesday, the final day of competitions, a basketball match between Iraq and Syria ended with tears, cheers and finally a group photograph.

“I’m happy, very happy. I don’t know how to describe it,” said Naim Asmar, a member of the victorious Syrian basketball team.

Asked whether he preferred they be labelled as special needs or as people of determination, the athlete responded unequivocally.

“People of determination,” he said over and over.

“It means we have willpower! We might even have more than regular people,” he said pointedly.

The team coach, Yasser alYassine, was also thrilled.

“This term is like a push for them – they understand what it means. It’s very motivating. It says, ‘I am a person of determination, so let’s go! I will do, I will train, I will play. If I can’t play, I’ll at least participate.

“It’s a wonderful concept,” said Yassine, whose team was participating in an international competition for the first time in six years. — AFP