Four UAE athletes have their images emblazoned on a plane

Abu Dhabi: Four UAE Special Olympics World Games athletes saw their images emblazoned across the side of an Etihad Airways Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner on Tuesday.

Etihad are the official airline partner of the Games that will take place in Abu Dhabi from March 14-21.

The unveiling took place at an engineering hangar in the UAE capital in front of swimmer Omar Al Shami, runner Hamda Al Hosani and bowlers Saleh Al Merri and Mariam Al Hosani.

The Special Olympics will be this year’s largest sports and humanitarian event with over 7,500 athletes and 3,000 coaches, representing more than 190 nations, participating in 24 sports across venues throughout Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

Al Shami, 15, who was delighted to see his image on the plane, said: “As an athlete of determination, I’m proud to have worked with Etihad on the livery. The positive impact that meaningful partnerships like this have is invaluable and I hope that more companies across the globe follow suit.”

More than 20,000 overseas visitors will join tens of thousands of spectators from across the UAE to watch what will likely be the largest global event ever held in the capital. As part of their partnership, Etihad will fly in athletes, equipment, coaches, dignitaries and media. The airline has also launched its own employee volunteer programme, allowing staff to volunteer at the Games for five days on full pay.