Panel drums up support for Special Olympics

SALALAH, DEC 26 - The Dhofar Branch of the Oman Special Olympics Committee is drumming up support for the 2019 global event, which is to happen in Abu Dhabi, UAE, from March 14-21. To create awareness among the community about the event, and more importantly about the people of special needs, the members of the Dhofar Branch are visiting educational institutions and associations with a call to extend full support to the event by identifying the right qualities of persons with intellectual disabilities and preparing them to take part in future events. Naif Ahmed Said al Shanfari, Chairman of Dhofar Branch of the Omani Special Olympics Committee, said the countdown for the Abu Dhabi Special Olympics has already begun with just 78 days left for the event. He and his team members are visiting schools, colleges and associations to make them aware about the event and exhorted them to recognise the accomplishments done for these people, as the committee keeps on organising regular events to keep people with special needs engaged intellectually and socially. The International Special Olympics, according to Al Shanfari, is a global movement aimed at creating a new world in which the acceptance of each individual without any physical or mental discrimination is assured. Commenting on Oman’s Special Olympic journey, Al Shanfari said, “Under a ministerial decree of the Ministry of Social Development, the Al Amal Association was formed in 2010 in order to improve the behavioural, motor and professional skills of people with intellectual disabilities, while Oman became part of the global movement of Special Olympics in March 2016. He exhorted the parents and partners to encourage everyone, especially youths with intellectual disabilities to take part in local, national and international events, which are designed to inculcate confidence in them. “Such events also give some kind of orientation to society to accept people with intellectual disabilities with grace and without any discrimination.” Yousuf Awadh Nasib bait Saleeam, Chairman of the Sports Committee in Dhofar Governorate and badminton coach, expressed satisfaction over practice of two male participants from Dhofar identified as Ayman and Said bait Said. Bait Saleeam claimed to have very good performance of Oman regionally, as it got a total of 39 medals in the MENA region during different rounds. “The preparations are going on well and we are boosted with our performance, as competitions held in 2018 placed us at second place in regional games,” said Bait Saleeam.