Champion of people of determination

Mohamed launched a series of social initiatives to integrate students with intellectual and developmental disabilities to achieve an inclusive environment in education

he 2019 Special Olympics World Summer Games, which was held in Abu Dhabi in March, laid the foundation for the legacy of inclusiveness and a more unified future for the young nation..

His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan promoted empowerment and inclusion for people of determination during the 10-day event, which coincided with the Year of Tolerance,

The Games broke records by welcoming the maximum number of nations in the history of the event and as the first nation in the Middle East to stage it. Sheikh Mohamed was the guiding force behind the event.a study released by the Special Olympics UAE on the impact of the Games showed a 400-per cent increase in the number of competitors, 50 per cent rise in the number of events, as well as an uptick in the number of female competitors in 18 sports by 27 per cent, and males by 7 per cent.

In 2020, another study conducted by Nielsen revealed that the Games had played a defining role in improving the overall sentiment towards individuals with intellectual disability in the UAE.

A series of social initiatives were initiated to establish the legacy of the Games, such as the Unified Champion Schools (UCS) programme, to integrate students with intellectual and developmental disabilities to achieve an inclusive environment in education.

In 2020, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed pledged $25 million for global expansion of the inclusive education programme across six countries such as Argentina, Egypt, India, Pakistan, Romania, and Rwanda.

At the start of the academic year 2021-2022, more than 400 government and private schools across the UAE committed to making their school communities more inclusive this year by registering for UCS.

This January, Sheikh Mohamed congratulated the Special Olympics UAE on being awarded the Special Olympics Healthy Communities Grant — 2021 by the world’s Special Olympics. The coveted award is given to countries that implement its Healthy Communities Programme.

“Ensuring the wellbeing of our People of Determination and providing them with comprehensive care in line with the highest international standards lies at the heart of the UAE’S plans and programmes to empower them and ensure their effective contributions to the country’s development,” he had told the delegation.

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed continues to support and remains committed to improving the lives of people of determination in the country and globally.

Ensuring the wellbeing of our People of Determination and providing them with comprehensive care in line with the highest international standards lies at the heart of the UAE’S plans and programmes