The local organising committee for the Special Olympics World Games Abu Dhabi 2019 is hosting a six-week summer camp in Dubai Sports World at Dubai World Trade Centre to engage people with intellectual disabilities ahead of the World Games.

The camp, supported by Dubai Sports Council and Emaar Properties, started on Monday and will see participants attend weekly training sessions in football, basketball and cycling, with the help of qualified coaches, culminating in a tournament to put skills to the test.

Special Olympics ambassadors, members of the UAE Special Olympics team and Emaar employees will also join the weekly training sessions to help train and mentor participants

Khalfan Mohamad Almazrouei, Managing Director of Special Olympics World Games Abu Dhabi 2019, said: “With next year’s Special Olympics World Games taking place in Abu Dhabi, this is one of the many events and initiatives that we are taking part in to engage with the wider community of people with intellectual disabilities across the UAE to encourage the movement to live in a more unified and inclusive society in the UAE and abroad.”

Ahmad Al Matrooshi, Managing Director of Emaar Properties, said: “Our support to the summer camp, as part of our role as a partner of the Special Olympics World Games 2019, underlines our commitment to corporate social responsibility.

“We look forward to hosting similar initiatives in Dubai and across the world-class venues owned by Emaar in the run up to the World Games to help build awareness on the message of inclusion and tolerance across the UAE and beyond.”

Special Olympics World Games Abu Dhabi 2019, scheduled for March 8-22, will be the largest sports and humanitarian event in the world, with 7,000 athletes and 3,000 coaches representing more than 170 countries.