Latest news with #SpecialOlympicsWinterGames
Khaleej Times
10-04-2025
- Sport
- 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.
Express Tribune
02-04-2025
- Sport
- Express Tribune
SOP medallists receive cash awards
BEST WISHES: Municipal Commissioner Noor Hassan Jokhio along with Syed Foundation President Wasim Hashmi, and the officials of Dar-ul-Sukoon being presented a souvenir along with Mumtaz Ali Zardari, Rafiq Sheikh, and Asim Ali Khan. PHOTO COURTESY: ORGANISERS The Municipal Commissioner of Saddar Town, Noor Hassan Jokhio, stated that special children are an integral part of our society. Allah has endowed them with immense potential, and these children have demonstrated their talents on the sports fields, bringing pride to Pakistan worldwide. Recently, our national heroes, who won six gold medals at the Special Olympics World Winter Games held in Turin, Italy, have proven that their abilities are no less than others, raising Pakistan's stature on the global stage. He made these remarks during a ceremony held at Dar-ul-Sukoon, an institution dedicated to the care of children with mental disabilities, under the auspices of Syed Foundation. The event was attended by Tamina Asif, Associate Secretary-General of the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA), Bony Bornation, Manager of Dar-ul-Sukoon, Syed Wasimuddin Hashmi, President of Syed Foundation, and a large number of special children. Municipal Commissioner Noor Hassan Jokhio expressed his happiness in participating in the celebrations of the special children, emphasizing that such events inspire further motivation among these children. In recognition of the Special Olympics Winter Games national medalists, Saddar Town will organize a ceremony where they will be awarded cash prizes. Tamina Asif, Associate Secretary-General of the POA, said that she salutes the tireless efforts of the Chairperson of Special Olympics Pakistan, Ronaq Lakhani, Syed Foundation President Wasim Hashmi, and the officials of Dar-ul-Sukoon for their dedication to serving special children. She further emphasized that the Pakistan Olympic Association will continue to extend its full support to ensure special athletes have equal opportunities to participate in sports. Syed Foundation's President Wasim Hashmi remarked that Dar-ul-Sukoon has undoubtedly set an example at the national level for its outstanding work. The institution not only focuses on the care of special children but also regularly organizes various events for their recreation. He announced that Syed Foundation will soon be hosting a sports festival for special children.
Hi Dubai
10-03-2025
- Business
- Hi Dubai
MAF Entertainment Empowers Three MENA Teams to Compete at 2025 Special Olympics World Winter Games
Majid Al Futtaim Entertainment is breaking barriers and making history at the 2025 Special Olympics World Winter Games, empowering athletes across the MENA region to compete at the highest level. Through its Ski and Snow portfolio, Majid Al Futtaim has trained and developed 10 Special Olympics teams representing the UAE, Oman, and Egypt, fostering inclusion and excellence in winter sports. Ignace Lahoud, Chief Executive Officer of Majid Al Futtaim Entertainment said: 'The Special Olympics is a powerful movement that unites people through the love of sport. Our athletes from the UAE, Oman, and Egypt are a true inspiration, showcasing perseverance, passion, and the drive to defy limits. We are incredibly proud of them and cheering them all the way as they shine on a global stage.' Before taking flight to Turin, more than 20 athletes dedicated over 170 training hours at Ski Dubai, Snow Abu Dhabi, Ski Egypt, and Snow Oman. They now join 1,500 athletes from 100 nations competing in eight winter sports categories from March 8-15, 2025. This marks the first Special Olympics Winter Games in nearly a decade, and the UAE delegation stands out as the largest from the Middle East, competing in six disciplines: Snowshoeing, Cross-country skiing, Figure skating, Alpine skiing, Short-track speed skating and Snowboarding. A Legacy of Inclusion and Innovation The journey to Turin started in October 2023, when Ski Dubai introduced a comprehensive Snow Sport Team Development Strategy to Special Olympics UAE. Designed to prepare athletes for global competition and ensure long-term sustainability, the strategy was so successful that it was expanded across Ski Dubai, Snow Abu Dhabi, Ski Egypt, and Snow Oman, resulting in the formation of nine snow sport teams and one ice sport team. Building on Abu Dhabi's historic hosting of the 2019 Special Olympics World Summer Games, Majid Al Futtaim Entertainment continues to redefine inclusion in sports. By opening doors to winter sports for athletes with intellectual disabilities, it proves that with opportunity, belief, and the right support, anything is possible. Majid Al Futtaim has been a pioneer in indoor snow entertainment since launching Ski Dubai at Mall of the Emirates in 2005. The success continued with the opening of Ski Egypt (2017, Africa's first indoor snow destination and Snow Oman (2022), the region's latest state-of-the-art snow park. Snow Abu Dhabi joined the Ski and Snow portfolio family in 2023, reinforcing Majid Al Futtaim's reputation as the world's leading brand in indoor snow entertainment. As these athletes step onto the world stage, they carry with them the dreams of a region, the support of a community, and the belief that barriers are meant to be broken. News Source: Majid Al Futtaim
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Central Illinoisan to represent country at Special Olympics
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (WMBD) — There will be a Special Olympian from central Illinois this year. 23-year-old Daniel Johnson from Normal will compete in the 400-meter, 800-meter, and 4×100-meter snowshoeing events at the Special Olympics World Winter Games Turin 2025. Snowshoeing is similar to track and field, but competitors run with snowshoes on instead of gym shoes. When he learned that he was selected to represent his country, a wave of shock went over him. 'I still can't believe I'm representing USA and representing this town,' he said. Johnson competes as part of the Special Opportunities Available in Recreation or SOAR program, which is a 'community therapeutic recreation program' that helps people from the age of four and up whose needs are not met by 'traditional recreational programs.' It is offered in both Bloomington and Normal. One of his coaches, Dee Wilson, described Johnson as a tough competitor. 'He's very coachable. Sometimes he will do more than what you want him to do,' she said. SOAR has had athletes compete in the summer games before, but Johnson is the first athlete to compete in the winter version. 'They haven't had that before, and I'm the first athlete. It feels great to represent SOAR and the USA,' Johnson said. Wilson said Illinois is different from other states in how they select athletes for the games. It isn't just how they perform, the intangibles are also considered. 'We look for athletes who are able to advocate for themselves, who let us know when there is a physical issue or a health issue. We look for athletes that are able to follow directions because this is a big step, being out on their own,' she said. To echo that point, Johnson said this will be his first time out of the country. In 2023, he garnered the top spot at Illinois' Special Olympics Winter Games which allowed him to be nominated for the international event. He filled out his application and was accepted to be on the team last spring. Since then, he's been training for the games, even going to Salt Lake City with his teammates to train at the Team Trials. The Special Olympics World Winter Games in Turin, Italy, will have 1,500 athletes from 103 countries, and will take place March 8-16. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
01-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Gold medalist to compete at Special Olympics World Winter Games
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (WMBD) — A man from Normal is one of 1,500 athletes looking to win gold across the pond. Daniel Johnson, 23, will compete in the 400-meter, 800-meter, and 4×100-meter snowshoeing events at the Special Olympics World Winter Games Turin 2025, according to the Bloomington Parks and Recreations department. Johnson works for the department but also competes with the city's Special Opportunities Available in Recreation or SOAR program, which is a 'community therapeutic recreation program' that helps people from the age of four and up whose needs are not met by 'traditional recreational programs.' The international event in Turin, Italy, will have 1,500 athletes from 103 countries, and will take take place March 6-16. Winning gold is not something Johnson hasn't experienced. In 2023, he garnered the top spot at Illinois' Special Olympics Winter Games which allowed him to be nominated for the international event. He filled out his application and was accepted to be on the team last spring. Since then, he's been training for the games, even going to Salt Lake City with his teammates to train at the Team Trials, the department said. 'We are all super excited for Daniel. He has worked incredibly hard for this moment. All of us at SOAR can't wait to watch the broadcast and cheer him on from home,' stated Holly Polley, SOAR program manager. Here in Bloomington, SOAR offers 12 Special Olympic sports. Johnson has competed in snowshoeing through the program since 2019. More information on SOAR can be found on the city of Bloomington Parks and Recreation's website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
