Refs train for Special Olympics

Dozens of athletes with intellectual disabilities took part in a specialist training course to learn how to officiate sporting events at Special Olympics World Games Abu Dhabi 2019.

The budding referees and game officials attended the launch of the Special Olympics Officials Programme for Athletes (SOOPA), held at the headquarters of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) of Special Olympics World Games Abu Dhabi 2019, to get a lowdown on the skills required to become a technical official at next year’s showpiece.

Set to take place in 11 venues from March 14—21 next year, the event will see over 7,500 athletes from across the globe compete in 24 officially-sanctioned Olympic-style sports.

SOOPA, the first ever specialist programme of its kind to be launched in the MENA region, falls in line with Abu Dhabi’s commitment to making the World Games the most unified event ever held in the history of Special Olympics.