Oman geared up for Special Olympics in Germany

Muscat: The Oman Special Olympics team will leave for Germany on June 12 to participate in the games on June 17.

As per the plans, the participants will first attend the events at the host cities and then proceed to Berlin for the games on June 17.

According to Special Olympics sources, Berlin will welcome 7,000 Special Olympics athletes and Unified partners from approximately 170 countries from June 17 – 25 to compete in 24 sports. The athletes will be supported by more than 3,000 coaches and 20,000 volunteers.

At the press conference held at the Ministry of Social Development, the Chairman of Oman Special Olympics said the Oman team will participate in 13 sports.

The Chairman of Oman Special Olympics, Salem bin Ahmed al Rashdi, said, “We have participants from the various governorates of Oman. There are 19 athletes who will be participating in the Special Olympics, but we also have partner athletes who can be with them as per the norm, and they are nine.” They started preparations in November 2022, and since June 2023, they have been trying in various regions of Oman.

Four players have been training in Nizwa for Athletics, two in Badminton in Salalah, two from Saham are participating in Bocce Ball, two in Bowling from Muscat, two from Muscat in Equestrian events, and ten from Ibri will be partaking in Futsal (football in the artificial grass). One Golf player from Muscat and two in powerlifting have been practising in Sur. Rollerskating will see two participants from Muscat, two members from Muscat will be taking part in Sailing, while two members from Suhar and one from Muscat are competing in Swimming, Table Tennis has two participants from Ibra, and two players from Muscat will be taking up the challenge in Tennis.

There are more elements to the Special Olympics. Dalia al Bassami, in charge of Public Relations, said, “Beside the games, during the Youth Leadership Conference, our youth leader, Athlete Abdurrehman al Raqadi, will present his project - his experience with Special Olympics and his journey from being an athlete to a Coach Assistant.” “In addition, this time, some of the parents are also going to be there to watch them participate,” she added.

Abdurrehman, at the press conference, said, “Sports is more than playing games.” He is encouraging community members to take up Special Olympics “Because what you achieve in sports cannot be achieved outside of it.” He won in the 2015 winter games in Austria and in 2017 third place in ice skating and first place in the relay. His ambition is to be a coach in Tennis and have his own Tennis Academy.

Special Olympics is an opportunity to contribute to the betterment of life, proved two other athletes who also were present at the press conference - Zaid Ahmed al Abry, who will be competing in Golf and Ameera bint Abdulaziz al Raisiyah who will be competing in Bowling.

Specific programmes for families aimed at ‘Healthy Athletes’ give parents a chance to support their children.

Zaid’s father, Ahmed al Abry, who is also the Chairman of the Oman Down Syndrome Association, said, “Some of our children from the Down Syndrome Association are participating in the games and will be leaving for Germany. Zaid is the first Omani youth Golf player with Down Syndrome.” The parents, family members, along with volunteers also have the opportunity to attend the opening and closing ceremonies. In addition to sports, there are health programmes such as health checkups where the athletes will be supported if they need special devices such as vision or hearing.

Two of the doctors from Oman Special Olympics will be attending to observe the procedures and implement them if the need be later in the future programmes.