Saturday 18 / May / 2024
Muscat: The Sultanate of Oman has participated in the launch of the Special Olympics World Summer Games in Berlin, Oman News Agency, (ONA), said.
The Sultanate of Oman, represented by Omani Special Olympics, participated in the launch of the Special Olympics World Summer Games, Berlin 2023, in its 16th edition.
The official opening ceremony for the launch of the Special Olympics World Summer Games was held at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin under the auspices of His Excellency Dr. Frank-Walter Steinmeier, President of the Federal Republic of Germany, and in the presence of Her Excellency Maitha bint Saif Al Mahrouqi, Ambassador of the Sultanate of Oman accredited to the Federal Republic of Germany.
The opening ceremony included many musical, light and fire performances, in an event attended by fans from different countries around the world.
The Norwegian duo "Madcon" performed the official song "Are you ready?" for the games.
The Omani Special Olympics delegation, which will participate in 13 different sports, includes 36 players with mental disabilities and 9 partner players.
Her Excellency Maitha bint Saif Al Mahrouqi, Ambassador of the Sultanate of Oman to the Federal Republic of Germany, expressed her pride in the Omani Special Olympics participants and what they will achieve during the Special Olympics World Summer Games.
Her Excellency said that this large international gathering is a real opportunity to contribute to bringing the peoples of the world closer together, exchanging their cultures, and highlighting the human dimension and its ability to achieve the impossible.
She added that people with disabilities in general are the real heroes in their reality, and challenge their disability every day and do not know the impossible, and that they are here today participating in this special international forum to achieve a global achievement in addition to their own achievements.
Her Excellency the Ambassador affirmed that the Sultanate of Oman pays special attention to this distinguished group in society, and is well aware that human beings are the building block of society and the basis of its renaissance and directing that energy is the compass for success and continuity.
She expressed her thanks to the German government and the organising committee for this tournament and for the successful organisation.
For his part, Nayef bin Ahmed Al Shanfari, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Special Olympics Oman and Vice chairman of the Mission, confirmed that this participation is a great gain, especially for the players, as it is an appropriate opportunity for players to gain experience and contact with various other teams, in addition to developing their spirit of competition.
He said that the performance of the Omani Special Olympics delegation in the previous edition of the World Summer Games that was held in the UAE capital, Abu Dhabi, and its winning of 12 gold medals, puts it in a good position in front of other teams.
Al Shanfari added that the Special Olympics movement focuses on purely humanitarian work, and it uses sports to serve people with intellectual disabilities and contribute to treatment.
He noted that the most important experience that players in this category go through is getting to know the different cultures that will contribute to refining their personality and integrating them into society.
Al-Shanfari called on families with people with intellectual disabilities to include this group in various sports, due to its importance in improving the various aspects of their lives.
In the same context, Asi Turheim, Vice Chairman for Competition Operations at the Special Olympics International, expressed her happiness with the participation of the Sultanate of Oman and various Arab countries in this event. She praised the great efforts made by the Sultanate of Oman with regard to the areas that concern people with intellectual disabilities.
It is noteworthy that the players of the Omani Special Olympics delegation include: Ahmed bin Hamoud Al-Awimri, Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Azizi, Shadia bint Awad Al-Shukili, and Thuraya bint Mohammedd Al-Shaibani in the athletics team.
As for the badminton game, the team includes: Ayman bin Khamis Bait Maksas and partner player Khaled bin Ali Al-Marhoon. In the game of bocce, the team consists of Mohammed bin Suleiman Al-Abri and partner player Abdullah bin Suleiman Al-Abri.
The bowling team includes Dima bint Naseeb Al-Rawahi and Amira bint Abdulaziz Al-Raisah. The equestrian team consists of Khalil bin Ahmed Al-Rawahi and Fatima bint Muhammad Al-Harithi.
The unified football team for the halls consists of the players: Nayef bin Ahmed Al-Manthari, Ghaith bin Saeed Al-Shukaili, Saeed bin Saif Al-Majrafi, Amjad bin Mohammed Al-Hinai, Khalfan bin Abdullah Al-Rujaibi, Al-Moataz bin Mushass Al-Hashemi. The partner players are Rashid bin Awad Al-Maamari, Ghassan bin Talib Al-Yaqoubi, Youssef bin Hamad Al-Yaqoubi and Al-Salem bin Rashid Al Maamari.
The weightlifting team includes Mohammed bin Nasr Al-Mukhaini and Abdulaziz bin Mohammed Al-Balushi. Zaid bin Ahmed Al-Jabri will participate in the game of golf.
The roller-skating team consists of: Hammam bin Ahmed Al-Rawas and Melook Bint Salem Al-Yahiya’i. The sailing team includes Mohammed bin Ahmed Al-Wahaibi and partner player Saleh bin Mohammed Al-Raisi. In swimming, Mishaal bin Saeed Al-Amri, Abdullah bin Ali Al-Shamsi and Maryam bint Abdul Hameed Al-Saeedi participate.
In the game of table tennis, Muhannad bin Suleiman Al-Siyabi Haitham bin Humaid Al-Manthari, and in tennis Karima bint Ali Al-Qasimi and Ruqayya bint Abdullah Al-Balushi will participate.
The World Summer Games, in its current edition, includes 26 Olympic sports, whose competitions will be held from June 17 to June 25, with the participation of 7,000 male and female players with mental disabilities from 190 countries. This is in addition to the contribution of nearly 20,000 thousand volunteers in organising this global event.
It is noteworthy that the various competitions in the first days of the World Summer Games "Berlin 2023" will focus on dividing teams into groups based on different criteria that focus on the players' athletic abilities, age and gender.
