The UAE became the first Gulf state to host a Special Olympics, writes Abeer Anwar Dubai played host to the fifth Special Olympics Middle East/North Africa (MENA) Regional Games which had 1,000 athletes representing 20 SO programmes. The four-day event for the intellectually challenged was named Zayed Al-Kheir in honour of the late United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al-Nahyan for his contribution to charity work around the world. The Games, which take place every two years, were held under the patronage of Sheikh Mohamed Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, UAE vice president, prime minister and ruler of Dubai. The SO sports were aquatics, athletics, badminton, basketball, bocce, equestrianship, five-a-side football, powerlifting, table tennis and handball. The expressed aim of the Games, the first to be held in the Gulf, is to provide a unique sports, social, cultural, humane and enjoyable experience to all participating SO athletes, allowing them to celebrate their abilities, demonstrate joy, develop friendships and become useful members of their community. An exceptionally wide range of activities to engage athletes and spectators alike were also held alongside the Games including the Regional Athlete Leadership Programmes Congress, Regional Families Forum Regional Youth Summit and the Healthy Athletes screenings in Health Promotion (first time in the region), Healthy Hearing, Opening Eyes and Special Smiles. "I'm very happy to be here in Dubai and to witness these glorious Games," SO Chairman Timothy Shriver said. "Dubai has done a marvelous job and is capable of hosting the Special Olympics World Games in the future in a very sophisticated way." Ayman Abdel-Wahab, SO MENA managing director, expressed his joy at having the fifth Games held with such success. "Dubai has set a high standard in hosting the Games," Abdel-Wahab said. "Also, the Games this year commemorated the name of President Sheikh Zayed and was patronised by Sheikh Mohamed Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum."
