Sheikh Mohammed at Special Olympics event
Crown Prince attends signing ceremony of accord
ABU DHABI // Abu Dhabi has made official its bid to host the Special Olympics World Games in 2019, which is said to be the first sporting event in the region for athletes with special needs and disabilities.
The official agreement for hosting the Games was signed yesterday at the Sea Palace, and witnessed by Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces. Abu Dhabi had unanimously won the hosting bid last November.
Sheikh Saif bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, and other officials also attended the signing ceremoney.
Dozens of children with special needs participated in the singing ceremony and expressed their excitement that the UAE would host the Games. They said it showed the leaders’ care for people with special needs.
“I have participated in a few previous Special Olympics Games, but now I am highly excited that this is coming to our home in the UAE,” said Mohammed Tajer, 20, from Dubai, who delivered an introductory speech at the event. “Such games play an impor- tant, life- changing role in the lives of special-needs children.”
Mariam Al Zaabi, 28, who has mental disabilities and loves running, said she was looking forward to the Games.
“I am happy that so much care is being given to us by our country’s leaders,” said Ms Al Zaabi, who attended the event with her mother, Khadeeja.
“Now that the Special Olympic Games are coming here, more focus will be given to special-needs children. It’s a great event and honour for the country to host it.”
The agreement was signed by Mohammed Al Junaibi, chair- man of the UAE Special Olympics organising committee, and Dr Timothy Shriver, chairman of Special Olympics International.
“It’s time to embody the ideals of tolerance and compassion all over the world,” said Dr Shriver, adding that the world would not work without empathy or inclusion.
He said parents could not raise their children without those qualities.
The aim, Dr Shriver said, was for the Games to be the “greatest sports event” held in the UAE, with implications beyond the world of sports.
“We want to create a turning point for educators all over the world,” he said.
“Why shouldn’t every child with a disability be allowed to play with their peers in schools all over the world? We want to be a catalyst for a policy change and we want to launch a digital revolution.”
The games will feature about 7,000 athletes from 170 countries in 22 sport events, 20,000 volunteers, an expected 500,000 spectators and 4,000 guests.
The Special Olympics World Games are held every two years and are recognised by the International Olympic Committee. Unlike the Paralympic Games, they are not held in the same year or in conjunction with the Olympic Games. “We want the world to know that people with disabilities are also able to participate and engage in the society, and they are able to work, do sports and get married as well,” said Majid Al Usaimi, national director of the Special Olympics UAE.
“So they should have equal opportunities and accessible environment,” said Mr Al Usaimi, 40, who has been a wheelchair user since he contracted polio when he was a year old.