UAE scoops 98 medals in Mena Special Games

Abu Dhabi: UAE athletes increased their haul of medals to 98 - including 47 gold, in the ongoing 6th Mena Regional Special Games which comes to a close tonight at the UAE Armed Forces Officers Club.

Mohammad Faddel Al Hameli, Head of the Supreme Organising Committee, yesterday praised the haul and told Gulf News: "Despite the fact that the Games are not basically to win medals, but to help the disabled integrate into society and live normal lives, the medals show the efforts of the athletes and how they have benefited from training hard."

Fourteen-year-old Reem Hussain won two gold medals in athletics, winning both the 200m and 400m race. Eissa Butti Al Muhairby, 29, won two gold medals in the Aquatics races for 25m Freestyle and 25m Breaststroke while Hamdan Salem, 21, won two gold medals in Athletics in the 100m and 200m sprints.

Proud

"I am proud to say that the Games have achieved the goal of helping the athletes to show their efforts in the healthy and honourable field of competition with their peers and they have shown great courage and bravery and done their best. I regard all the participants as winners because of their determination and strong will.

"I met with the heads of all 23 delegations from the Middle East and North Africa and they have all agreed on the success of the games, especially in the organisation process and the facilities provided and they were all grateful to the UAE government and people for the warm welcome and hospitality during their stay," Al Hameli said.

Ayman Abdul Wahab, Chairman of the Regional MENA Special Olympics, told Gulf News: "The Abu Dhabi Games have succeeded in increasing society's interest in the disabled sector and I am sure that most of the states who have delegations taking part in these games will give more emphasis to this sector to help their welfare and improvement in the near future."

14-year-old Reem Hussain won two gold medals in athletics, winning both the 200m and 400m race.