On ski slopes in Dubai, snow parks and skating rinks in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, 11 Emirati athletes have been training for more than a year to represent the UAE in its first Special Olympics World Winter Games.
The group say they are excited and ready to compete in six disciplines, from snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, Alpine skiing, snowboarding, figure skating to short-track speed skating in Turin, Italy, from March 8 to 15.
This is the first time the UAE will send a team to compete in the Special Olympics World Winter Games.
They will be among more than 1,500 athletes from 102 delegations to compete in the Special Olympics. The Games aim to use the power of sport to foster inclusive communities and transform attitudes towards people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
“I really love speed. I like cross-country skiing. I’m really fast. I’m really excited for the games.” Khalifa Al Amiri told The National as he strapped on his gear, digging the ski poles into the snow to push off after his coach and teammates training in Ski Dubai.
During a recent session, a group of athletes gathered around their coaches and listened intently as the training plan was outlined. The camaraderie was evident as the tightly knit group chatted with their trainers. They completed warm-up exercises and shot off, bending and gliding down the slopes.
Trainers said when people are surprised a country in the desert has a winter sports team, they point to the indoor facilities across the country.
The six female and five male athletes, aged between 16 to 39, live in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman and Ras Al Khaimah. They rarely miss training sessions from the Ski Dubai slopes to the snow park at Snow Abu Dhabi and ice rinks in Zayed Sports City and Al Ain.
Light up every session
Gabriel Guevara, head coach of the UAE’s alpine ski team, said trainers focus on an athlete’s innate talent and natural ability.
“For our athletes, it’s not about their diagnosis or their condition, it’s about their skill because this discipline tests their ability and technical skill,” said the Argentinian alpine race trainer at Ski Dubai. “My athletes face challenges like autism and Down syndrome. But the reality is they don’t have any challenges because every session they come to, they come with a smile every day.”
The 11 athletes were selected from trials held between 2023 and 2024 that were open to clubs nationwide for people with disabilities. Following intensive training, the team completed its first winter sports camp in Uzbekistan in January and will head to Turin after a final training camp in Dubai next week.
World-class indoor facilities
The UAE hosting the 2019 Special Olympics World Games in Abu Dhabi was a turning point for the country, with people filling up stadiums in a demonstration of acceptance of the abilities of people with cognitive disabilities
Talal Al Hashemi, national director of the UAE Special Olympics, said world-class training facilities and support provided by the Majid Al Futtaim group helped the athletes prepare at the highest level.
“Our goal is to build on the legacy of success achieved at the Special Olympics World Games Abu Dhabi 2019 and to see our athletes once again excel on the global stage, raising the UAE flag high on the winners’ podium in Italy,” said Mr Al Hashemi.
“The UAE Winter Sports Federation has been instrumental throughout our preparations with its experts providing invaluable technical knowledge of sports that are somewhat new for us. This collaboration with public entities and private sector institutions highlights the UAE’s strong commitment to building an inclusive society, where people of determination are empowered and given opportunities to thrive in all sports.”
Special Olympic skiers, skaters and snowboarders can train regardless of the weather using the country’s indoor snow sports infrastructure.
“There is a massive advantage training in an indoor environment compared to the outdoors,” said Olivier Saez, vice president of Global Snow, which manages and operates Majid Al Futtaim’s indoor snow facilities where the team trains.
“Yes, in the outdoors there is a different challenge, how to manage the altitude, how to breathe, but there is also a lot of inconsistency – the visibility and the temperature.
“But this indoor facility has real snow. It’s real snow people are skiing on. There are multiple advantages because, in this environment, you can ski all year around. You can train for 24 hours. We don’t depend on the sunset. There is no limit.”
Founded in 1968, the Special Olympics movement’s mission has been to shatter barriers, inspire more people to take up sports and create acceptance for people with cognitive and developmental disabilities.
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If you go...
Fly from Dubai or Abu Dhabi to Chiang Mai in Thailand, via Bangkok, before taking a five-hour bus ride across the Laos border to Huay Xai. The land border crossing at Huay Xai is a well-trodden route, meaning entry is swift, though travellers should be aware of visa requirements for both countries.
Flights from Dubai start at Dh4,000 return with Emirates, while Etihad flights from Abu Dhabi start at Dh2,000. Local buses can be booked in Chiang Mai from around Dh50
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Indoor cricket World Cup:
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UAE fixtures:
Men
Saturday, September 16 – 1.45pm, v New Zealand
Sunday, September 17 – 10.30am, v Australia; 3.45pm, v South Africa
Monday, September 18 – 2pm, v England; 7.15pm, v India
Tuesday, September 19 – 12.15pm, v Singapore; 5.30pm, v Sri Lanka
Thursday, September 21 – 2pm v Malaysia
Friday, September 22 – 3.30pm, semi-final
Saturday, September 23 – 3pm, grand final
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Saturday, September 16 – 5.15pm, v Australia
Sunday, September 17 – 2pm, v South Africa; 7.15pm, v New Zealand
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Tuesday, September 19 – 10.30am, v New Zealand; 3.45pm, v South Africa
Thursday, September 21 – 12.15pm, v Australia
Friday, September 22 – 1.30pm, semi-final
Saturday, September 23 – 1pm, grand final
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Another way to earn air miles
In addition to the Emirates and Etihad programmes, there is the Air Miles Middle East card, which offers members the ability to choose any airline, has no black-out dates and no restrictions on seat availability. Air Miles is linked up to HSBC credit cards and can also be earned through retail partners such as Spinneys, Sharaf DG and The Toy Store.
An Emirates Dubai-London round-trip ticket costs 180,000 miles on the Air Miles website. But customers earn these ‘miles’ at a much faster rate than airline miles. Adidas offers two air miles per Dh1 spent. Air Miles has partnerships with websites as well, so booking.com and agoda.com offer three miles per Dh1 spent.
“If you use your HSBC credit card when shopping at our partners, you are able to earn Air Miles twice which will mean you can get that flight reward faster and for less spend,” says Paul Lacey, the managing director for Europe, Middle East and India for Aimia, which owns and operates Air Miles Middle East.
What can you do?
Document everything immediately; including dates, times, locations and witnesses
Seek professional advice from a legal expert
You can report an incident to HR or an immediate supervisor
You can use the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation’s dedicated hotline
In criminal cases, you can contact the police for additional support
