Al Nassr crash out as Kawasaki Frontale reach AFC Champions League Elite final    Saudi and Jordanian foreign ministers discuss Gaza situation    HR Ministry approves regulations for job ads and interviews in private sector    Will US tariff hikes affect Saudi Arabia? Kingdom largely insulated as oil exports remain exempt and non-oil sectors gain a pricing edge    Mataf nearly empty as entry to Makkah restricted to Hajj visa holders    Cinema revenues account for SR845.6 million in 2024 17 Saudi films among 504 films screened    Saudi Transplant Congress discusses scientific advancements and innovations on organ donation and transplantation    Mawani and Alissa Universal Motors sign agreement worth SR300 million to establish Logistics Zone at King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam    4 Chinese nationals arrested in Makkah for promoting fake Hajj campaigns    Saudi Arabia urges India and Pakistan to de-escalate tensions    Trump congratulates Canada's Carney as they agree to meet in 'near future'    Sánchez vows to uncover reasons behind massive Iberian power outage    Al-Khereiji at BRICS: Saudi Arabia a reliable and neutral partner in endeavors for de-escalating tensions    Al Ahli stun Al Hilal to reach AFC Champions League Elite final    Saudi market shows resilience in Q1 2025 despite global volatility: Report    SR200,000 reward for each player of the Saudi club winning AFC Champions League title    William and Kate celebrate anniversary on Isle of Mull    HONOR KSA expands its presence with new flagship Experience Store in Riyadh HONOR's first flagship store in KSA provides visitors with a premium experience, exciting offers and free services    Rock & Roll Hall of Fame picks Outkast but not Oasis    Duran leads Al Nassr past Yokohama Marinos into AFC Champions League Elite semi-finals    Pakistani star's Bollywood return excites fans and riles far right    Veteran Bollywood actor Manoj Kumar dies at 87    Bollywood actress vindicated over boyfriend's death after media hounding    Grand Mufti rules against posting prayers and preaching in mosques on social media    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Special Olympics World Games kick off in Abu Dhabi
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 14 - 03 - 2019

The Special Olympics World Games kicked off at Zayed Sports City Stadium in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, on Thursday evening. It is the first time that the Special Olympics is being held in the Middle East and North Africa region in its 50-year history.
Saudi athletes were among 7,500 athletes from over 190 countries that participated in the traditional opening ceremony, flying their country's flags. The Saudi teams, which feature women athletes for the first time since the Kingdom started participating in the Games in 1994, are taking part in an array of sport events, including basketball, swimming, table tennis and bowling.
Prince Abdul Aziz Bin Turki Al-Faisal, chairman of the board of directors of the General Authority of Sports and president of the Saudi Arabian Olympic Committee, visited on Thursday the Saudi national teams participating in the Special Olympics and reassured their preparedness for the competition.
Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed, crown prince of Abu Dhabi and deputy supreme commander of the armed forces, declared the Abu Dhabi World Games officially open. Once the tributes were over and the oaths were read, the torches made their way down into the stadium and Sheikh Mohammed took to the microphone to announce the official start of the Games.
"We welcome you to the house of Zayed, your second country. And with all pride we are honored to host the Special Olympic World Games and we are proud to have all the Special Olympic athletes here from around the world. Today with your presence and your efforts we send a message that nothing is impossible when you are determined."
The journey of the flame of hope ended as it lit the cauldron in Zayed Sports City. Starting from Athens, ‘the Flame of Hope' has been carried by law enforcement officials and athletes across every emirate in the UAE. Athletes took the oath of the Special Olympic Games, as the flag of the Games was raised.
A staggering 6,000 families will be at the 11-day sporting extravaganza cheering for their special athlete, with over 3,000 coaches are on board training the special athletes for their big day.
Moreover, 1,500 officials are at work ensuring the week-long event runs as smoothly as possible. Over 20,000 volunteers, including people with and without intellectual disabilities, from all over the world have swung into duty for the sporting competition. — SG


Clic here to read the story from its source.