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22:42 GMT
Kuwaiti Minister of Commerce and Industry Khaled Al-Roudhan at the opening ceremony of the Special Olympics MENA Games Abu Dhabi 2018
ABU DHABI, March 17 (KUNA) -- Kuwaiti Minister of Commerce and Industry Khaled Al-Roudhan lauded as spectacular the opening ceremony of the Special Olympics MENA Games Abu Dhabi 2018.
The wonderful ceremony impressed the participants and the spectators alike, Al-Roudhan, also Minister of State for Youth Affairs, told KUNA on Saturday evening.
He thanked the United Arab Emirates for hosting the event under the patronage of Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohammad bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
He expresses hope for the success of the event, which lasts until March 23, and the Special Olympics World Games Abu Dhabi to be held here next year.
On his part, Director General of Kuwait's Youth Public Authority (YPA) Dr. Mahmoud Fleitah said the impressive opening ceremony highlighted the UAE's leading role in hosting international sports events.
The ceremony reflected the UAE care for the Paralympic sports and encouraging the integration of persons with special needs into the society, he added.
This is the third time Abu Dhabi hosts the regional event after the versions of 2006 and 2008; the ongoing Special Olympic Games gathered more than 1,000 athletes, male and female, from 32 countries. (pickup previous)
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