Dubai: The UAE is hopeful of a much better display when a 120-member strong contingent departs on Friday for the XIII Special Olympics World Summer Games which begins in Athens on Saturday and ends on July 4.
"We have the full backing of our rulers and it is with their support that we are pursuing our goals of bringing glory to the UAE," Mohammad Fadil Al Hameli, chairman, UAE Special Olympics, told the media at the formal announcement of the squad late on Monday.
"This trip will definitely seek to integrate individuals with special needs and empower them to face life by participating in a high-quality competition like the summer games," he added.
The last time the UAE participated, at the 2007 Shanghai Special Olympics, they travelled with a contingent of 70. This time the country has a total of 120, athletes and officials, covering 13 different sports such as bowling, powerlifting, volleyball, table tennis, badminton, Bocce, cycling, football, swimming, basketball and track and field.
This year's games, with the opening and closing ceremonies scheduled at the Panathenaic Stadium, will feature 21 sports at 30 venues with more than 7,000 athletes competing over ten days.
The first International Special Olympic Games (Summer Special Olympics) were held in Soldier Field, Chicago, USA, with more than 1,000 athletes from the US and Canada competing in track and swimming.
The athletes' oath — "Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt" was introduced at these games by founder Eunice Shriver in the opening ceremony.
The UAE first participated in the Special Olympic Games in Ireland in 2003, bagging one gold, one silver and three bronzes. Four years later, it fared much better in Shanghai bringing home three gold, seven silver and 18 bronze medals.
"When we went to Shanghai [in 2007] we had a squad of only 40 athletes. Now we have 70 going to Athens... because we have a better chance to win even more medals," Al Hameli said.
