As Abu Dhabi prepares to welcome more than 7,000 athletes to the Special Olympics World Games in 2019, the organising committee is looking for volunteers.
Abu Dhabi’s World Games host more than 170 countries competing in 24 sports - the most countries to ever participate in the Special Olympics.
The games will run from March 14 to 21 and will not be possible without thousands of volunteers giving their time. Individuals will be needed to help prepare and run events and competitions during the biggest humanitarian event in the world.
The committee hopes to attract 20,000 volunteers. To that end, it is holding a special event at Yas Mall in Abu Dhabi to register those interested until Saturday.
''You’ll be assuming severe essential roles, and, most importantly you will open your eyes and heart to a more hopeful, inclusive world. The experience is one you will never forget,'' the committee told prospective volunteers.
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Volunteers must be at least 14 years old and will also undergo pre-event online or face-to-face training. Some roles will be tailored according to skills of volunteers.
The areas available to volunteers include sports, technology, event, medical, delegation assistance liaison, communications, operations, guests service, language service and protocol.
Opportunities are also open for people with intellectual disabilities.
Abu Dhabi is no stranger to the Special Olympics – it has already successfully delivered the Special Olympics IX MENA Games 2018, where over 3,000 volunteers of all ages and nationalities gave more than 50,000 hours of their time to support more than 1,000 athletes from 31 countries.
Iraq negotiating over Iran sanctions impact
- US sanctions on Iran’s energy industry and exports took effect on Monday, November 5.
- Washington issued formal waivers to eight buyers of Iranian oil, allowing them to continue limited imports. Iraq did not receive a waiver.
- Iraq’s government is cooperating with the US to contain Iranian influence in the country, and increased Iraqi oil production is helping to make up for Iranian crude that sanctions are blocking from markets, US officials say.
- Iraq, the second-biggest producer in the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, pumped last month at a record 4.78 million barrels a day, former Oil Minister Jabbar Al-Luaibi said on Oct. 20. Iraq exported 3.83 million barrels a day last month, according to tanker tracking and data from port agents.
- Iraq has been working to restore production at its northern Kirkuk oil field. Kirkuk could add 200,000 barrels a day of oil to Iraq’s total output, Hook said.
- The country stopped trucking Kirkuk oil to Iran about three weeks ago, in line with U.S. sanctions, according to four people with knowledge of the matter who asked not to be identified because they aren’t allowed to speak to media.
- Oil exports from Iran, OPEC’s third-largest supplier, have slumped since President Donald Trump announced in May that he’d reimpose sanctions. Iran shipped about 1.76 million barrels a day in October out of 3.42 million in total production, data compiled by Bloomberg show.
- Benchmark Brent crude fell 47 cents to $72.70 a barrel in London trading at 7:26 a.m. local time. U.S. West Texas Intermediate was 25 cents lower at $62.85 a barrel in New York. WTI held near the lowest level in seven months as concerns of a tightening market eased after the U.S. granted its waivers to buyers of Iranian crude.
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At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
