UAE Debuts at Special Olympics Winter Games With 11 Athletes
Emirati squad aged 16 to 39 will compete in six disciplines in Turin, from March 8th to March 15th.
11 Emirati athletes will represent the UAE at the Special Olympics World Winter Games in Turin, Italy, from March 8th to March 15th, marking the nation’s debut at the event. The team, aged 16 to 39, has trained for over a year at indoor facilities in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Al Ain across six disciplines: snowshoeing, cross-country and Alpine skiing, snowboarding, figure skating, and short-track speed skating.
Selected through nationwide trials in 2023-2024, the squad completed a winter camp in Uzbekistan and final Dubai sessions before Turin. The UAE’s 2019 hosting of the Special Olympics in Abu Dhabi bolstered local infrastructure, enabling year-round indoor practice.
A key to preparing the athletes was a partnership with the UAE Winter Sports Federation and Majid Al Futtaim, operators of training venues. The Games aim to promote inclusion for 1,500 participants with intellectual disabilities from 102 nations. Founded in 1968, the Special Olympics movement advocates global acceptance through sport.
