Special Olympics Athletes From Team U.S.A. Meet With Ambassador Al Otaiba
Sports connect people across cultures and backgrounds. The Special Olympics does just that for athletes with intellectual disabilities — empowering them through the opportunity to participate in various sporting events.
Every four years, the Special Olympics holds a World Games, with athletes from around the globe competing across 24 different sports. Chris Hahn, Head of Delegation for Special Olympics Team U.S.A., articulated the importance of the World Games during a lead-up event in 2018, saying, “The Games serve as a valuable opportunity to not only spread our mission but also as an opportunity to educate participants and fans about an area of the world they may never have otherwise experienced.”
The UAE and U.S. have been longtime partners in promoting tolerance and inclusion, particularly through the UAE USA United campaign. To show the UAE’s support of American Special Olympics athletes, Ambassador Yousef Al Otaiba visited with Team U.S.A. athletes at their training camp prior to the 2019 World Games in Abu Dhabi. The Ambassador took time to connect with the athletes and even participated in a few practice drills with the basketball and table tennis teams.
Following the 2019 Games in the UAE capital, Yousef Al Otaiba has continued supporting the Special Olympics as a member of the organization’s Board of Directors. Ambassador Al Otaiba also traveled to Berlin to cheer on Team UAE at the 2023 Special Olympics World Games. Additionally, he has used his passion for sports to institute other sports-related initiatives that empower young people. His work includes the UAE Embassy’s Community Soccer Program, which revitalizes and constructs all-weather soccer fields in underserved communities in America.
Get more information on the UAE’s involvement with the Special Olympics and other sports-related initiatives:
https://www.uaeusaunited.com/stories/...
https://www.uaeusaunited.com/news/uae...
https://www.uaeusaunited.com/stories/...
About Yousef Al Otaiba:
Special Olympics: https://www.specialolympics.org/about...
UAE USA United: https://www.uaeusaunited.com/yousef-a...
MoFA: https://www.mofa.gov.ae/en/bio/yousef...
UAECD: http://www.uaecd.org/yousef-al-otaiba
#SpecialOlympics #UAEUSAUnited #ChooseToInclude
Time Stamps:
00:00 American Athletes Prepare for Special Olympics Games in the UAE
00:11 Yousef Al Otaiba Meets Members of Team USA
00:15 Al Otaiba Runs Practice Drills Alongside Special Olympics Athletes
00:50 UAE’s Support for Inclusion, Respect and Unity