UAE Special Olympics Continues Advancing Opportunities for People of Determination
Abu Dhabi, The Gulf Observer: The UAE Special Olympics is making remarkable strides in fostering growth and development for People of Determination, reaffirming their valued role in society through continuous achievements on the global stage.
The UAE Special Olympics movement began in the early 1990s under the UAE Disabled Sports Federation, training hundreds of athletes and hosting numerous local and regional competitions. In 2017, it was re-established as a public benefit organization under the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai, with recognition from the Ministry of Community Development.
A significant turning point came in 2019 when Abu Dhabi hosted the Special Olympics World Games, the largest in the event’s history, featuring 7,000 athletes from 200 countries. The UAE delegation achieved historic results, setting the foundation for future success.
The country’s athletes continued to excel, securing 16 medals at the 2022 Malta Games, including six gold, eight silver, and two bronze. Building on this momentum, the UAE achieved a historic milestone at the 2023 World Games in Berlin, earning 73 medals—18 gold, 22 silver, and 33 bronze—the best performance by an Arab nation.
Further accomplishments followed at the 2023 Asian Classic Powerlifting Championships in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, where UAE athletes claimed 20 medals—15 gold and five silver. At the 2024 Malta National Games, UAE competitors earned 15 medals across five sports, with 20 athletes representing various clubs for People of Determination.
Additionally, at the Middle East and North Africa Athletics Championship in Amman in February 2024, UAE athletes won 22 medals, comprising 12 gold and 10 silver. In May 2024, the UAE hosted its inaugural Special Olympics Games, featuring two events: one for Unified Schools with 400 athletes and another for over 600 athletes from clubs and centers nationwide.
Most recently, at the Torino Games in Italy, UAE Special Olympics athletes achieved the best performance by an Arab and Middle Eastern country, securing 16 medals with a delegation of 11 athletes.
Talal Al Hashemi, National Director of UAE Special Olympics, stated, “Since the 2019 Abu Dhabi Games, we have witnessed a new era of empowerment and excellence for People of Determination in sports. We have invested in a strategy aligned with the wise leadership’s vision to support individuals with intellectual and developmental challenges, and we have seen remarkable progress in the development and empowerment of our athletes.”
