Special athletes set off on Abu Dhabi Torch Run
An hour before dawn, while most of the country was still sleep, 20 athletes with intellectual disabilities set off on a 13-hour journey to carry the Special Olympics torch through the capital.
The blazing torch, representing their right to inclusiveness in sport and beyond, snaked through Abu Dhabi’s streets, starting at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and ending at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre.
Stopping at Louvre Abu Dhabi, they lit a cauldron to mark the opening of the Special Olympics IX Mena Games, where more than 1,000 athletes with intellectual disabilities from 31 countries will compete. At each stop along the route, residents applauded and cheered the athletes on. The journey included a police parade and glittering ceremony at Abu Dhabi National Oil Company.
Yet the proudest and the happiest of all during the run were the torchbearers – 33-year-old Khaled Al Hajeri and 26-yearold Hareb Malallah.
Despite the warm weather, the athletes seemed immune to the heat and were resilient.
“We could go on and on,” said Mr Al Hajeri, who has learning difficulties. “We are happy carrying the torch. Never before did I hold such an important torch and run with it, and if I could, I would run with it all over Abu Dhabi.”
His partner, Mr Malallah, said he was spurred on by his excitement for the Games, the opening ceremony of which is on Saturday. “We are ready. We are excited and we are the strongest.”
So inspiring were the athletes that the police escorts volunteered their time to be with the team.
“Our shift begins at 7.30am
Despite the warm weather, the athletes seemed immune to the heat and were resilient
and ends at 2.30pm but we have been with the team from 5am and will stay with them the entire day,” said First Col Saeed Al Mansoori.
“We are all prepared to, and want to spend all our time with, the Special Olympics team.
“It is not just serving our country and doing our duties but in the few days we have been with them, they have become our friends.
“I love their innocence, their spontaneity, their cheerfulness. Their passion and determination is like nothing I have ever seen.
“If we were not asked to be here, we would all come on our own, and that is what we plan to do from now on,” he said.
Two officers were brought in from the United States and Australia to be with the team and ran alongside them yesterday.
Rtd Capt John Newnan from the Maryland Howard County police who visited in July to assist in the torch run planning, said: “What we want to do is involve the police and provide support. Special Olympics is the charity of choice for law enforcement officers around the world. Our purpose is twofold – to create awareness and excitement for the Games, and to engage local police to support Special Olympics.”
Police officers from every US state plus 36 countries are attending the World Games next year in Abu Dhabi.
“We are excited for the Mena Games and we will win, but it is winning the world championships that we are after,” Mr Malallah said.