Special Olympians feel they ‘own the world’ with leaders’ support

The UAE’s Special Olympics athletes feel empowered to achieve even greater feats when the highest levels of government extend a friendly hand of support, their families have said.

Relatives of those who won honours for the Emirates in international competitions described it as a morale boost when young sportspeople with special needs walked handin-hand with UAE leaders at events such as the 2019 Special Olympics World Games, which was held in Abu Dhabi.

“Saleh was so proud. He felt like he owned the whole world,” said Hamad Al Marri, the brother of Special Olympics athlete Saleh Al Marri, who has won several medals for the Emirates in bowling.

Building on their previous successes, the UAE athletes participated in the Special Olympics Invitational Games in Malta this month.

The event featured more than 1,000 athletes from Special Olympics organisations around the world. It was the first such games to be held in Europe since the coronavirus pandemic began.

During the Special Olympics World Games in Abu Dhabi three years ago, more than 7,000 athletes from a record 192 countries took part.

It was the first time such a major games event was hosted in the Middle East and it helped to break down barriers.

Since then, pictures of athletes walking with the President, Sheikh Mohamed, in Umm Al Emarat Park in the capital and being invited to meetings with UAE leaders have appeared in newspapers, websites and social media across the country. Athletes’ families said it gave the competitors a renewed sense of purpose and sent a broader message of integration to the community.

“The athletes want to make a name for UAE; they want Sheikh Mohamed to be proud of them,” said Al Marri, who participated in the 2019 unified games as a bowling partner with his medalwinning brother.

After Abu Dhabi hosted the world games, Sheikh Mohamed pledged $25 million in 2020 to help fund an inclusive education project led by the Special Olympics movement.

The initiative calls for the acceptance of young people of all backgrounds through sports and youth leadership programmes.

Special Olympics UAE provides year-round sports training for children and adults with intellectual disabilities.