Special Olympics Middle East/North Africa
5th Regional Games - "Zayed Al Khaier"
The Special Olympics Middle East/North Africa Regional Games took place 11-15 November 2006 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. One thousand athletes representing 20 Special Olympics Programs in the region competed. The Games, which take place every two years (they were last held in Tunisia in 2004) took place under the patronage of Sheikh Mohamed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister, United Arab Emirates, and Ruler of Dubai.
Read about the Games by clicking on the links below.
- Visit the Middle East/North Africa Regional Games Web site.
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Special Olympics United Arab Emirates athlete Hareb Abdullah Ohod, right, speaks at the press conference announcing the Games as Bani Hamad Ahmad Mohammad Hassan, member of the board for Special Olympics United Arab Emirates (left) and Ayman Aly A. Wahab, Special Olympics Middle East/North Africa Managing Director (center) look on. More on the press conference at the Dubai Press Club in Dubai Media City. [Photo courtesy Special Olympics Middle East/North Africa]
• Read Special Olympics to focus on role of women, an article on the Middle East/North Africa Regional Games, published by Gulfnews.com, 27 July 2006 (Adobe PDF, 23K) |
Ten Special Olympics sports were on display: aquatics, athletics, badminton, basketball, bocce, equestrian, football (soccer) - 5-a-side and Unified Sports®, powerlifting, table tennis and team handball.
The mission of the Games, the first to be held in the Gulf area, was to provide a unique sports, social, cultural, humane and enjoyable experience to all Special Olympics athletes participating, allowing them to celebrate their abilities, demonstrate joy, develop friendships and provide their families and the community with an exceptional medium to change the world and give more people a chance.
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Participants:
• 1,000 athletes representing 20 Special Olympics Middle East/North Africa Programs
• Coaches and official delegates
• Family members and friends of athletes
• Volunteers
• Media
For information in Arabic, visit the Special Olympics Middle East/North Africa Web site.
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The Special Olympics Middle East/North Africa 5th Regional Games, which were announced officially at a 26 July press conference in Dubai, offered a wide range of activities to engage athletes and spectators alike, including the following Special Olympics Initiatives:
- 3rd Regional Athlete Leadership Programs (ALPs) Congress
- 2nd Regional Families Forum
- 3rd Regional Youth Summit
- Healthy Athletes screenings held in the following Healthy Athletes disciplines - Health Promotion (first time in the region), Healthy Hearing, Opening Eyes® and Special Smiles®
Vision
"All have great potential and, if given the right opportunity, we can use in the best way. We should search for the power within ourselves"
- His Highness General Sheikh Mohamed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum
In light of Sheikh Al Maktoum's words, the Middle East/North Africa Regional Games were determined to give Special Olympics athletes the opportunity to realize their potential, transform communities by inspiring people, throughout the region, to open their minds, accept and include people with intellectual disabilities, celebrate the similarities common to all people and involve the society, on all levels, in searching for the power within Special Olympics athletes to become heroes.
For information on the Middle East/North Africa 5th Regional Games, please contact:
Salma El Ghandour, selghandour@specialolympics.org
Communications & Partnership Development Coordinator
Special Olympics Middle East/North Africa
P.O. Box 502168
Office 320, Building 8
Dubai Media City
Dubai, UAE
+971 4 390 2116
+971 4 390 4749 (Fax)
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