
Mina Al Mazrouei raises Special Olympics flag at Turin 2025
A Symbol of progress for the UAE Special Olympics
Mina Al Mazrouei's participation in raising the flag highlights the significant progress made by UAE Special Olympics in integrating people of determination into society through sports. This event emphasizes the country's commitment to supporting and empowering athletes with disabilities.
A global participation
The competition at the Turin 2025 Games features over 1,500 athletes and unified partners from 102 countries, showcasing the global spirit of inclusion.
UAE's pride and commitment to empowering People of Determination
His Excellency Talal Al Hashemi, National Director of Special Olympics UAE and Head of the UAE Mission to Turin 2025, expressed pride in Al Mazrouei's participation, stating it represents a moment of national pride. He reaffirmed the UAE's dedication to ensuring people of determination are integral to the country's achievements. The UAE delegation includes 30 members, 11 of whom are athletes with disabilities.
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The National
24-04-2025
- The National
UAE-backed Special Olympics drive aims to boost inclusivity in the classroom
A UAE-backed Special Olympics task force has delivered a global "call to action" to champion inclusivity in schools for children with disabilities and ensure access to quality education for all. The Special Olympics Global Centre for Inclusion in Education has set out plans to address gaps in disability-inclusive education and participation in school sports as part of a major push to champion equality. The strategy – called 'A Global Research Agenda for Building Inclusive Learning Environments – has been carried out by the centre's research collaborative. The work of the think tank, made up of scholars from leading academics, including Yale University, Harvard University and NYU Abu Dhabi, is supported by a $25 million grant from President Sheikh Mohamed, given in 2020. The key funding aimed to build a lasting legacy following the success of the landmark Special Olympics World Games Abu Dhabi in 2019. 'From both personal and academic perspectives, inclusion means an environment where children are valued for their contributions, not their perceived deficits," said Dr Jackie Jodl, who is head of Global Youth and Education at Special Olympics International. "It's about building friendships and being embraced for who you are. 'The agenda is a call to action. We're moving beyond isolated best practices to systemic change that's measurable and sustainable.' The initiative was announced at the recent 2025 Global Disability Summit in Berlin, with input from global academics, youth advocates, and Special Olympics athletes. 'In my perfect world, a child with a disability can walk into their local school and feel like they belong. It's about creating environments where everyone is accepted as they are,' Dr Kristie Patten, professor and counsellor to the president at New York University Steinhardt, told The National. The agenda urges the international community to step up efforts in training teachers and sport coaches on inclusivity plans, defining inclusion across cultures, engaging families and communities; measuring results, supporting displaced learners, and using artificial intelligence responsibly. Dr Patten said there was a need for a shift in public perception. 'Disability isn't about the individual. It's about how supportive or limiting the environment is,' she said. 'If my child flaps her hands in the grocery store and I stop taking her because of how people react – that's what disables her. 'We also have to think about displaced populations; refugees and others who are too often left out of these conversations. Inclusion shouldn't be earned. It should be built in from the start.' The Global Centre for Inclusion in Education operates in 59 countries and supports more than 2,600 schools in running programmes promoting inclusivity. Despite significant strides being made, particularly through the Special Olympics movement, there is more work still to be done. Analysis by Unesco of 209 countries has found that while 38 per cent of countries promote inclusive education in their policies, only 17 per cent legally guarantee these measures and 25 per cent still allow for fully segregated schooling. The research collaborative is seeking to change attitudes, policies and laws to offer greater support to children with disabilities. 'The UAE shows what's possible when there's a systemic approach,' said Dr Jodl. 'We're following His Highness's vision to share what works globally.' Previous World Bank estimates indicate that excluding people with disabilities from education, jobs, and society could cost a country between 3 and 7 per cent of its GDP. 'We haven't yet fully realised what inclusive systems can deliver,' said Dr Jodl. 'So the cost of doing nothing may be even higher.' One emerging focus is to ensure artificial intelligence is not unwittingly used to perpetuate stereotypes and marginalise some groups. 'If AI is trained on deficit-based assumptions, it will reinforce harmful stereotypes,' Dr Jodl warned. 'We need to shift the data and the mindset.' The centre plans to present its first set of findings later this year at a global symposium aimed at expanding partnerships and accelerating impact.


Gulf Today
15-04-2025
- Gulf Today
UAE athletes from Special Olympics World Winter Games Turin get heroes' welcome
Majid Al Futtaim's Ski Dubai, in partnership with the UAE Winter Sports Federation, welcomed the UAE delegation of the Special Olympics World Winter Games Turin 2025 at a homecoming celebration in their honour. The ceremony was held at the Ski Dubai, Mall of the Emirates, reinforcing the nation's commitment to championing and advancing inclusion in sports. The UAE delegation, composed of 11 athletes of determination, proudly represented the nation as their largest team to date at the Special Olympics World Winter Games Turin 2025. Held from March 8-15, the delegation achieved outstanding success, securing an impressive tally of 16 medals, including four gold, five silver, and seven bronze medals. During their homecoming celebration, the athletes showcased their world-class talent by performing a synchronised skiing and snowboarding run and carrying the UAE Flag and Special Olympics Flag on the snow-covered slopes of Ski Dubai, in front of their families, coaches, senior officials from the UAE Government and Special Olympics UAE, Majid Al Futtaim. The event was graced by Talal Al Hashemi, National Director of the Special Olympics UAE, Ahmed Galal Ismail, CEO of Majid Al Futtaim Holding, Ignace Lahoud, CEO of Majid Al Futtaim Entertainment, Mohammad El Etri, Managing Director of Operations of Majid Al Futtaim Entertainment, and representatives of Special Olympics UAE. Hashemi said 'We are incredibly proud of our athletes who represented the UAE with passion, perseverance, and pride at the Special Olympics World Winter Games Turin 2025. Their remarkable achievement of 16 medals is not just a testament to their talent, but also to the power of inclusion and what can be accomplished when individuals of determination are given the opportunity to thrive. 'Our heartfelt thanks go to Majid Al Futtaim and the UAE Winter Sports Federation for their unwavering support in preparing our delegation. This homecoming celebration is a reminder of the progress we are making as a nation towards building a more inclusive sporting community.' Lahoud said: 'We are extremely proud to see our homegrown athletes achieve the historic victory they deserve. For over a year, our world-class facilities at Ski Dubai and Snow Abu Dhabi have been a training ground for their incredible talent, determination, and resilience, and now the rest of the world has witnessed it too.' 'Majid Al Futtaim is committed to making winter sports accessible for all, right in the heart of the desert. Through the transformative power of sports, we aim to foster inclusivity and celebrate diversity among people of determination. We look forward to strengthening our partnership with the Special Olympics and UAE Winter Sports Federation to continue achieving the extraordinary.' Since 2024, the ongoing partnership between Majid Al Futtaim and Special Olympics UAE have made winter sports even more accessible to athletes with intellectual disabilities by focusing on talent identification, team building, skill development, performance monitoring, and overall readiness, empowering them to reach new heights and represent their country on the global stage.


Khaleej Times
10-04-2025
- Khaleej Times
Look: Heroes' welcome for UAE Special Olympics team after winning 16 medals at World Winter Games
After a year of intensive training, 11 determined Emirati athletes competed in six winter sports at the Special Olympics World Winter Games Turin 2025, held from March 8 to 15. The team returned home with 16 medals — four gold, five silver, and seven bronze. To mark their homecoming, a celebration was hosted by Special Olympics UAE at the newly launched Ski Dubai in Mall of the Emirates, in collaboration with Majid Al Futtaim and the UAE Winter Sports Federation. Families joined proudly to celebrate the athletes' achievements. The UAE delegation was the largest from the region. 'This is not just about medals,' said Mohammad El Etri, Managing Director of Majid Al Futtaim Entertainment. 'It's about pride and proving that with determination, even a desert nation can compete and win in winter sports.' El Etri added, 'Winter sports in the GCC actually started in the UAE. We were the first in the region to gain international recognition. With the next Asian Winter Games to be hosted in Saudi Arabia, this is a milestone for the region. The UAE has the facilities, the athletes, and the vision to keep pushing forward.' During the opening, partners and some winners made a presentation that featured an ice skating performance and the use of zip lines to carry the UAE flags. Coach Edgardo Guevara of Ski Dubai praised the team's resilience said, 'Despite the snow, fog, and terrible visibility, nothing stopped them — they gave everything and earned 16 medals.' He highlighted that training began in early 2024. 'We don't focus on diagnosis — we focus on skill, attitude, and heart. They never gave up.' Looking ahead, Guevara said, 'We're now preparing for the 2029 Special Olympics Winter Games in Switzerland. This is just the beginning.' Talal Al Hashemi, National Director of Special Olympics UAE, said: 'One of our main focuses has been building on the legacy of the 2019 World Games in Abu Dhabi. Partnerships like the one with Ski Dubai helped us transition athletes into winter sports and achieve this level of excellence.' 'Every victory leads to a programme — how we build on that success through new initiatives focused on greater inclusion, more family involvement, and stronger community engagement. God willing, we have a clear plan to grow from this achievement,' He added.