Seminar held to introduce Special Olympics at KU
KUWAIT: The National Director of Special Olympics Kuwait, Rihab Bouresli, stressed the importance of the participation of educational institutions in the activities of the Special Olympics Kuwait as a key partner to translate the Unified Champions Schools program in the Olympics into a reality in which educational integration is achieved through sports, as a nucleus to build inclusive and comprehensive educational communities that ensure that young people have access to opportunities that promote acceptance and understanding and create a study atmosphere characterized by acceptance of difference. This came at the introductory lecture on the Special Olympics and its programs organized by the College of Life Sciences at Kuwait University.
She expressed her happiness with the level of attendance and interaction witnessed during the lecture and thanked college faculty member Dr Ghanima Al-Faleh for the wonderful and distinctive organization.
Rihab Bouresli began the lecture by reviewing the launch of the Special Olympics and its transformation from an individual initiative of Mrs Eunice Kennedy, sister of the late US President John F. Kennedy in 1968 to the largest humanitarian sporting event in the world and the largest global movement focused on empowering people with intellectual disabilities in society through sports, initiative programs and health care.
Special Olympics Kuwait has expanded its activities, programs, practitioner base, and regional and international achievements since it resumed its activities in 2018.
Captain Bilal Al-Hamami reviewed the Special Olympics sports program, available games and the classification of players to give all levels of special players the opportunity to compete. Captain Linda Jaber, Initiatives Officer, introduced the program and its role in honing the abilities of Special Olympics players and developing them, through a variety of community, educational, health and sports initiatives and the role of the program in engaging the entire community in supporting inclusion encouraging the integration of players' families in activities and events and providing psychological and social support to the players.
Special Olympics Health Program Officer Dalal Bou Hamad discussed the Special Olympics Health Program and its role in caring for the health and well-being of people with intellectual disabilities, by providing medical services through 9 specialized clinics and awareness and sports programs aimed at enhancing their quality of life, also training medical staff by providing courses for doctors, nurses and volunteers to deal with people with intellectual disabilities.
The lecture was held in the presence of Hanaa Al-Zawawi, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Special Olympics Kuwait, Dr Hanadi Abdul Salam, Acting Vice Dean of the College, and a number of Special Olympics athletes from leadership programs, health ambassadors, members of the technical and administrative staff of the Special Olympics and the Special Olympics Club, as well as a number of Special Olympics athletes from leadership programs, health ambassadors, and members of the technical and administrative staff of the Special Olympics and the Special Olympics Club of Kuwait.
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