Al-Hashemi: What has been achieved is considered as a humanitarian achievement on the land of the Emirates
The Special Olympics initiative exceeds expectations by 60 million steps
One of the goals of the initiative is to shed light on people of determination. Photography: Eric Arazas
The UAE Special Olympics announced the achievement of 60 million steps through 2,410 participants, thus exceeding expectations within the Challenge Initiative (Our Steps Together), launched by the UAE Special Olympics headed by Minister Shamma Al Mazrouei, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, and the regional presidency of the International Special Olympics headed by Eng. Ayman Abdel Wahab, and sponsored by a group Bin Aziz.
The required challenge number of 52 million steps, equal to the 52 years since the launch of the Special Olympics movement in 1968, had already been fulfilled and before the official end date of the race, which concluded "the day before yesterday," and then exceeded it by eight million.
Special Olympics players, their families, and all those interested in people with intellectual disability from people of determination were keen to monitor the challenge counter in the morning and evening, and their hearts fluttered with joy as they saw the number 52 achieved and surpassed it, to reach 60 million steps in 10 days, with the participation of many nationalities residing inside and outside the UAE.
The Executive and National Director of the UAE Special Olympics Foundation, Talal Al-Hashemi, described in a press release what has been achieved as a human achievement on the land of the Emirates in addition to a large group of noble initiatives, just as the "Walk Together" initiative that coincided with the ninth regional games hosted by Abu Dhabi 2018 and continued with the World Games 2019, and achieved great success, and left many good effects among all members of the UAE community, which encouraged us to launch the Tahadi initiative (Our Steps Together).
Al-Hashemi added: “Close follow-up of the numbers of steps that have been achieved was a source of great happiness and pride with every step added to the steps, and the goal was achieved before the end of the official date of the challenge and exceeding it by eight million steps is evidence of the great impact of the Special Olympics on Emirati society, which makes us always think about Carrying out similar initiatives that everyone contributes to achieving them, as this wonderful initiative was able to shed light on people of determination who have mental challenges in an innovative and exciting way full of excitement and challenge, and the participation of various loyal Emirati people and children of many other nationalities in this initiative, and I can say with confidence that it is I achieved the lofty goal that I set out for ».
For his part, Engineer Ayman Abdel Wahab said, “What pleased me a lot is the great turnout for participation of all ages and nationalities, and it made me feel overjoyed by me and all those belonging to that humanitarian movement, whether in the main office in Washington, or the regional presidency and the rest of the seven regions of the world, and the region’s programs in the 23rd Countries as well as various Special Olympiad programs in 192 countries belonging to the Special Olympics movement.
• 52 million steps is the required number, equal to the 52 years since the Special Olympics movement began in 1968.