Special olympics help outstanding athletes face challenges - UAE min.

ABU DHABI, March 17 (KUNA) -- The Special Olympics IX MENA Games Abu Dhabi 2018 enable distinguished athletes to overcome challenges if they have an appropriate platform and environment, said a UAE official on Saturday.
Addressing the opening ceremony, Minister of Community Development Hessa Buhumaid stressed the importance of supporting skills of those outstanding people in general life, mainly in sports, and activating their integration in the society through preparing programs, initiatives and championships for them.
She referred that the games, which are held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammad Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, includes 7,000 male and female athletes from 170 countries.
Athletes will participate in 16 different sports that will be hosted in eight different venues including ADNEC, Zayed Sports City, Yas Marina Circuit, NYUAD, Officer's Club, Mubadala IPC Arena, Al Jazira Sports Club and Al Forsan Club. Entry across all the sites is open to the public, according to UAE news agency (WAM).
The special Olympics IX MENA Games and Special Olympics World Games Abu Dhabi 2018 are part of the UAE's National Vision 2021 that highlights full integration of people of determination into everyday society.
The opening ceremony was launched in the presence of Deputy Chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Council Sheikh Hazza Al Nahyan, Kuwait's Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Minister of Industry and Commerce Khaled Al-Roudhan, Honorary President of the Kuwaiti Disabled Sport Club Sheikha Sheikha Al-Abdullah Al-Sabah, Director General of Kuwait Public Authority for Sport Humoud Fulaiteh and Kuwait's Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates Salah Al-Buaijan. (end) bsu.hm