ABU DHABI 23 March 2018: Special Olympics IX Mena Games Abu Dhabi 2018 officially closed on Thursday night with a spectacular ceremony at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (Adnec).
The ceremony at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre was attended by Mohamad Abdulla Al Junaibi, Chairman of the Higher Committee of Special Olympics World Games 2019, Ayman Abdel Wahab, President & Managing Director of Special Olympics Mena, Peter Wheeler, CEO of Special Olympics World Games Abu Dhabi 2019; ministers and LOC team members.
The evening begun with thank you notes by Ayman Abdel Wahab, President & Managing Director, Special Olympics Middle East and North Africa and Ameera AlMuharrami, Director of Volunteers at Special Olympics World Games Abu Dhabi 2019.
A video of the week’s highlights then played to the crowd, focusing on the incredible efforts, results and comradeship of all the athletes, volunteers, national service members, sponsors and the local organizing committee.
Speeches were made by representatives of the athletes, family members and the heads of the thousands of volunteers who helped make IX Mena Games the success that it was.
Olympics ceremony protocol then followed which included the lowering of the Special Olympics flag, which has flown over Adnec this past week, and the Special Olympics ‘Flame of Hope’ cauldron was extinguished.
Special Olympics IX Mena Games 2018 was then officially declared as having closed, and the evening’s entertainment began.
More than 1,000 athletes from 32 countries travelled to Abu Dhabi to take part in Mena IX Games, which was the first major sporting event ahead of Special Olympics World Games Abu Dhabi 2019.
Special Olympics IX Mena Games and Special Olympics World Games Abu Dhabi 2019 were a part of the UAE’s National Vision 2021 that highlights full integration of people of determination into everyday society. Special Olympics World Games Abu Dhabi 2019 will be the most ‘unified’ games in history and promise to offer an inclusive experience for those with and without intellectual disabilities.