UAE athlete Mariam Al Zaabi, carries the Flame of Hope during the opening ceremony of the Special Olympics IX MENA Games Abu Dhabi 2018. Ryan Carter for the Crown Prince Court
UAE athlete Mariam Al Zaabi, carries the Flame of Hope during the opening ceremony of the Special Olympics IX MENA Games Abu Dhabi 2018. Ryan Carter for the Crown Prince Court

Hope burns bright in Abu Dhabi



The arrival of the Flame of Hope in Abu Dhabi marks the start of the countdown to one of the largest and most significant international events to be held in the UAE. It also signals the beginning of a festival of human achievement that cannot fail to move and inspire all who will witness it. Over the next two weeks, 7,500 athletes from 190 countries will converge on the capital for the Special Olympics World Games, the largest sporting event ever staged for sportswomen and men with intellectual disabilities.

These games are the first in the movement's 50-year history to be held in the region. They are here because the ethos of the Special Olympics is a perfect fit with the UAE's values of inclusivity and unity, and the nation's commitment to altering attitudes towards all people living with disabilities. Flown in today from Athens, the historic home of the Olympic movement, on Monday the Flame of Hope will begin its 10-day journey to the opening ceremony of the games. En route, it will pass through each of the seven emirates before arriving at Zayed Sports City Stadium in Abu Dhabi on March 14. The Olympic flame is no stranger to Abu Dhabi, which last year hosted the Special Olympics IX Mena Games. Now, a year on, the region's special athletes are to be joined by the best in the world, competing across 24 sports from athletics, swimming and cycling to sailing, football and basketball.

Over the next few weeks, Abu Dhabi and the world will witness amazing feats by some of the world’s most amazing athletes, each one of whom has refused to allow intellectual disability to define them and is determined to be the best they can be.  Strap in for an inspiring ride. Throughout this celebration of the very best of humanity, there will be tears and triumphs, commiserations and celebrations. But, above all, there will be joyful living testimony to the truth of the motto of the Special Olympics: "In this world there are millions of different abilities, but no disabilities."

Champions League Last 16

 Red Bull Salzburg (AUT) v Bayern Munich (GER) 

Sporting Lisbon (POR) v Manchester City (ENG) 

Benfica (POR) v Ajax (NED) 

Chelsea (ENG) v Lille (FRA) 

Atletico Madrid (ESP) v Manchester United (ENG) 

Villarreal (ESP) v Juventus (ITA) 

Inter Milan (ITA) v Liverpool (ENG) 

Paris Saint-Germain v Real Madrid (ESP)  

How much sugar is in chocolate Easter eggs?
  • The 169g Crunchie egg has 15.9g of sugar per 25g serving, working out at around 107g of sugar per egg
  • The 190g Maltesers Teasers egg contains 58g of sugar per 100g for the egg and 19.6g of sugar in each of the two Teasers bars that come with it
  • The 188g Smarties egg has 113g of sugar per egg and 22.8g in the tube of Smarties it contains
  • The Milky Bar white chocolate Egg Hunt Pack contains eight eggs at 7.7g of sugar per egg
  • The Cadbury Creme Egg contains 26g of sugar per 40g egg
ATP WORLD No 1

2004 Roger Federer

2005 Roger Federer

2006 Roger Federer

2007 Roger Federer

2008 Rafael Nadal

2009 Roger Federer

2010 Rafael Nadal

2011 Novak Djokovic

2012 Novak Djokovic

2013 Rafael Nadal

2014 Novak Djokovic

2015 Novak Djokovic

2016 Andy Murray

2017 Rafael Nadal

2018 Novak Djokovic

2019 Rafael Nadal

Volvo ES90 Specs

Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)

Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp

Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm

On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region

Price: Exact regional pricing TBA

While you're here
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Skewed figures

In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458. 

In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe

Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010

Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille

Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm

Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year

Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”

Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners

TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013 

Syria squad

Goalkeepers: Ibrahim Alma, Mahmoud Al Youssef, Ahmad Madania.
Defenders: Ahmad Al Salih, Moayad Ajan, Jehad Al Baour, Omar Midani, Amro Jenyat, Hussein Jwayed, Nadim Sabagh, Abdul Malek Anezan.
Midfielders: Mahmoud Al Mawas, Mohammed Osman, Osama Omari, Tamer Haj Mohamad, Ahmad Ashkar, Youssef Kalfa, Zaher Midani, Khaled Al Mobayed, Fahd Youssef.
Forwards: Omar Khribin, Omar Al Somah, Mardik Mardikian.