The UAE Special Olympics delegation succeeded in winning 16 different medals (8 gold, two silver, and 6 bronze) during its participation in the National Games “Austria 2022”, which was held in Burgenland, eastern Austria, from 23-28 June.
In physical strength games, Abdul Rahman Al Hosani won four gold medals, Mohammed Al Mazmi won two silvers, and Ibrahim Al Hammadi won four bronze medals.
In table tennis for the singles category, the two players, Kholoud Al Shehhi and Nadia Al Falasi, took first place, and Muhammad Al-Mas and Qais Al Qubaisi also won first place in the doubles (males).
In the individual sports dance, Ahmed Al-Jilani won the first place, and Ghanem Al-Maamari won the third place. In the group dance, a team that included: Ahmed Al-Jilani, Ghanem Al-Maamari, Sharifa Al-Yaqoubi and Shaima Al-Marzouki won third place.
The UAE Special Olympics delegation included 19 members, including 12 athletes for physical strength, sports dancing and table tennis, and the delegation was accompanied by medical facilities from the National Ambulance, as support from this leading national institution for the activities of the UAE Special Olympics.
Sheikh Suhail bin Butti Al Maktoum, Executive Director of the Sports Development Sector at the General Sports Authority, said in a press statement: “We are proud of the achievements of the People of Determination, and their constant determination to reach the podiums, and raise the flag of the UAE in various continental and international forums in which they participate. It reflects the great work done by the Special Olympics Foundation and its partners from government agencies and sports sector institutions concerned with empowering people of determination and improving their sports performance.”
He added: “Participation in international tournaments represents a great opportunity to develop the level of players, through contact with players from different countries, in addition to enhancing the culture of participation in international forums, which contributes to developing their belief in their abilities and enhances their chances of achieving achievements. Therefore, the authority supports partnership efforts, It calls on the sports sector institutions to work on developing ways of cooperation locally and internationally, with the aim of enhancing the presence of UAE sport in various forums, and giving Emirati athletes the opportunity to compete in high-level championships.
Talal Al-Hashemi, National Director of the UAE Special Olympics, said: “We are proud of the successive achievements of the UAE Special Olympics athletes internationally. Especially since we were invited to participate in this tournament because of our strong relationship with the Austrian Special Olympics, since we hosted a delegation of them in Abu Dhabi a short time ago, as part of the bridge-building program between Abu Dhabi and Austria in 2018.
He added: “The wonderful performance of our players in various international forums confirms their complete readiness and good preparation for international participation, and to represent the UAE in a very honorable manner. After Austria 2022, the unified Emirati women’s football team will go next month to participate in the 2022 World Cup in Detroit, USA.”
Teams from the Special Olympics institutions from Germany, Luxembourg, Slovenia, Slovakia and Hungary participated in the National Games of the Austrian Special Olympics 2022, in addition to Austria and the United Arab Emirates.
In addition to strength sports, sports dancing and table tennis, in which the Emirati delegation participated, the games included other games such as judo, swimming, tennis, bocce, golf, bowling and football.
Hashemi:
“We were invited to participate in the tournament because of our strong relationship with the Austrian Special Olympics.”
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