There will be 12 athletes at the tournament.
Athletes from the Special Olympics UAE team are gearing up for the Special Olympics Invitational Games Malta 2022.
The 12 athletes have been chosen to represent the UAE at the first international Special Olympics event in Europe since the beginning of the pandemic will compete across a range of sports including aquatics, bowling, and bocce.
The only national Special Olympics organisation from the Arab World represented at Malta 2022, the team secured their participation because of its acclaimed virtual sports and fitness programmes that ran throughout 2020 and 2021, and its success in returning safely to in-person sports events, at a national level, since September 2021.
Speaking on the team His Excellency Talal Al Hashemi, National Director of Special Olympics UAE, said; “Our preparations for Malta 2022 Games have been ongoing for some time and have cumulated in a closed training camp for our 12 Athletes, their coaches, and technical staff.
“There is a lot of excitement and anticipation, and to many of our Athletes, this is very reminiscent of their experiences at the World Games Abu Dhabi 2019.
“We hope that they are equally successful in Malta, and importantly we want them to enjoy themselves, feel empowered and included. In many ways, this is how success looks like to us.
“I would like to thank Aldar Properties for sponsoring the Special Olympics UAE team, and the Integrated Transport Center – Abu Dhabi for their contribution to the team’s preparation efforts.”
Additionally, Special Olympics UAE will participate in bowling with a unified team, which includes two players from the UAE national bowling team, Reem Jamal and Abdullah Al Jaidi.
Special Olympics UAE Athletes took part in a recent six-day training camp at the Khalifa International Bowling Center in Zayed Sports City, Mohammed bin Zayed Sports City Center – Water Sports Complex, and the Abu Dhabi Club for People of Determination in Mafraq in preparation for the games that will run from 13 to 18 May.
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