Dubai: The 1st Unified 3×3 basketball tournament organized in collaboration between Special Olympics UAE and the Jam Sports Academy was concluded today with Ms. Shamma bint Suhail Faris Al Mazrui, Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Chairperson of the Special Olympics UAE and Fatma Mohamed, Head of Strategy and Projects at Special Olympics UAE in attendance.
Al Ittihad Private School at Jumeira hosted the final leg of the tournament where five men and three women teams participated from the Dubai Club for People of Determination, Al Thiqah Club for Handicapped, Heroes of Hope, Dubai, and players from Jam Sports Academy took part as unified partners. The tournament was held to train and prepare Athletes for the World Games Berlin 2023 with the support of the UAE Basketball Association, who provided referees throughout the tournament.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, Ms. Shamma bint Suhail Faris Al Mazrui remarked that, “We are proud of the success of the tournament and grateful for the instrumental support provided by Special Olympics UAE’s strategic partners. The clubs, coaches, families of Athletes and care and support staff, have all exerted tremendous efforts to facilitate the return to in-person sports programmes, and to once again, give our Athletes, People of Determination with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, an outlet for their passion for sports in a safe and fun environment; they are also our heroes today.“
Both Jam Sports Academy and Special Olympics UAE signed new Memorandum of Understanding, extending their collaboration to develop multiple sports programs, including handball, table tennis, and tennis.
The programs will introduce Special Olympics UAE’s Athletes to different sports and will prepare them for upcoming regional and international tournaments including the World Games Berlin 2023.
The tournament saw over 100 men and women Athletes participate from different clubs and centres for People of Determination with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities from across the UAE.
SUMMER WORLD GAMES BERLIN 2023
The 2023 Summer World Games at Berlin, Germany would be the country’s first instance at hosting such an event. Scheduled to be held from June 17 to June 24, 2023, the Games will witness thousands of People of Determination with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities gather from all over the world to participate in 26 Unified sports and activities.
Most Read: Dates; the quintessential fruit that epitomizes the Emirati Culture