Some need music; others prefer the promise of a shopping trip but when it comes to the UAE’s Special Olympic athletes, their coaches know how to keep them motivated and prepare them for competition.
UAE bowling coach Samira Ouzmi has different techniques she deploys for each athlete under her charge to release much needed reserves of energy when the team trains twice a day.
“For Saif and Salih I need music. Some players like Maryam want us to joke with them and then they are happy. Every player has a key and I use this key when we need to double the training,” said Ms Ouzmi.
However, the coaches are always careful not to push the athletes too hard. But when practice stints extend to two-hour sessions in the morning and evening, they need to make sure their team remain interested throughout training.
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Read more:
Special Olympics athletes feeling 'strong' as they gear up for this week's games
Special Olympics team coach tells of the lessons he learnt from athletes
National Editorial: Special Olympics Mena Games will inspire all who watch them
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Ms Ouzmi has a routine to encourage Saif Al Hashmi, a former UAE Special Olympics swimming champion who has since moved to bowling. Placing both hands on his shoulders, she looks directly into his eyes and reminds him that he is a champion.
Another player, Saeed, requires small shopping jaunts as his break to refuel, while Maysa is content when her family is around.
If all else fails, coach Ms Ouzmi blows kisses to the tight knit team and promptly gets a mirror response.
Coaches focus on building up the athletes’ arms and upper body to support the bowling swing and release motion. They constantly move between the lanes, offering words of advice, support and encouragement to keep the team connected and driven.
The coaches understand that the self-confidence the game instills has a long lasting impact far beyond the challenge of the competition.
“Sport gives them heart. It gives them the strength to be with other people,” said co-bowling coach Amir Fayt. “They take on a new life when they play. It’s as if they change when they leave their home to go to the club and to stadium and when they play a game.”
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Albania 0 Italy 1
Finland 2 Turkey 2
Macedonia 4 Liechtenstein
Iceland 2 Kosovo 0
Israel 0 Spain 1
Moldova 0 Austria 1
Serbia 1 Georgia 0
Ukraine 0 Croatia 2
Wales 0 Ireland 1
High profile Al Shabab attacks
- 2010: A restaurant attack in Kampala Uganda kills 74 people watching a Fifa World Cup final football match.
- 2013: The Westgate shopping mall attack, 62 civilians, five Kenyan soldiers and four gunmen are killed.
- 2014: A series of bombings and shootings across Kenya sees scores of civilians killed.
- 2015: Four gunmen attack Garissa University College in northeastern Kenya and take over 700 students hostage, killing those who identified as Christian; 148 die and 79 more are injured.
- 2016: An attack on a Kenyan military base in El Adde Somalia kills 180 soldiers.
- 2017: A suicide truck bombing outside the Safari Hotel in Mogadishu kills 587 people and destroys several city blocks, making it the deadliest attack by the group and the worst in Somalia’s history.
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No more lice
Defining head lice
Pediculus humanus capitis are tiny wingless insects that feed on blood from the human scalp. The adult head louse is up to 3mm long, has six legs, and is tan to greyish-white in colour. The female lives up to four weeks and, once mature, can lay up to 10 eggs per day. These tiny nits firmly attach to the base of the hair shaft, get incubated by body heat and hatch in eight days or so.
Identifying lice
Lice can be identified by itching or a tickling sensation of something moving within the hair. One can confirm that a person has lice by looking closely through the hair and scalp for nits, nymphs or lice. Head lice are most frequently located behind the ears and near the neckline.
Treating lice at home
Head lice must be treated as soon as they are spotted. Start by checking everyone in the family for them, then follow these steps. Remove and wash all clothing and bedding with hot water. Apply medicine according to the label instructions. If some live lice are still found eight to 12 hours after treatment, but are moving more slowly than before, do not re-treat. Comb dead and remaining live lice out of the hair using a fine-toothed comb.
After the initial treatment, check for, comb and remove nits and lice from hair every two to three days. Soak combs and brushes in hot water for 10 minutes.Vacuum the floor and furniture, particularly where the infested person sat or lay.
Courtesy Dr Vishal Rajmal Mehta, specialist paediatrics, RAK Hospital
What is a robo-adviser?
Robo-advisers use an online sign-up process to gauge an investor’s risk tolerance by feeding information such as their age, income, saving goals and investment history into an algorithm, which then assigns them an investment portfolio, ranging from more conservative to higher risk ones.
These portfolios are made up of exchange traded funds (ETFs) with exposure to indices such as US and global equities, fixed-income products like bonds, though exposure to real estate, commodity ETFs or gold is also possible.
Investing in ETFs allows robo-advisers to offer fees far lower than traditional investments, such as actively managed mutual funds bought through a bank or broker. Investors can buy ETFs directly via a brokerage, but with robo-advisers they benefit from investment portfolios matched to their risk tolerance as well as being user friendly.
Many robo-advisers charge what are called wrap fees, meaning there are no additional fees such as subscription or withdrawal fees, success fees or fees for rebalancing.
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Cape Town Sevens on Saturday and Sunday: Pools A – South Africa, Kenya, France, Russia; B – New Zealand, Australia, Spain, United States; C – England, Scotland, Argentina, Uganda; D – Fiji, Samoa, Canada, Wales
HSBC World Sevens Series standing after first leg in Dubai 1 South Africa; 2 New Zealand; 3 England; 4 Fiji; 5 Australia; 6 Samoa; 7 Kenya; 8 Scotland; 9 France; 10 Spain; 11 Argentina; 12 Canada; 13 Wales; 14 Uganda; 15 United States; 16 Russia
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