Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – Thursday, 21 November 2024 - The Special Olympics Global Center for Inclusion in Education celebrated a significant milestone at its global summit under the theme of “Inclusion for Tomorrow.” Held at the dome of Zayed University, the global gathering marked years of expansive growth and profound impact, enabling the growth of Special Olympics inclusive education and sports programming in 25 countries, all with the support of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates. The 25 Programs supported by this grant have recruited over 2,000 Unified Champion Schools, engaged over 110,000 athletes and Unified partners (athletes without intellectual disabilities) to participate in Unified Sports, trained over 14,000 teachers and coaches, and have broadly engaged 1.1 million students.
The summit gathered over 300 advocates, educators, and athletes from around the globe to share insights and forge new pathways for people with intellectual disabilities. The gathering not only celebrated past milestones, but also set the stage for future endeavors by implementing best practices for promoting social inclusion for people with intellectual disabilities through sports, youth leadership, and comprehensive school engagement.
Dr. Timothy Shriver, Special Olympics Chairman and Mary Davis, Chief Executive Officer of the organization, made a special journey to Abu Dhabi to commemorate the Center’s achievements.
Dr. Shriver shared in his opening keynote a message that His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan shared when he first announced his commitment to fund the work over five years ago. “Everything is possible. Nothing is impossible!” Dr. Shriver further added, “We can teach courageous action. We can create the change we want. We wouldn’t be able to celebrate the success globally if it weren’t for the success here locally. The work Special Olympics United Arab Emirates has done in building more inclusion in schools is not only a model for the region, but for the entire globe.”
“Every student should have the opportunity to learn and thrive in an inclusive learning environment. When we embrace inclusivity, children learn better. And we know from the statistics and research that children do learn better. Not just children with disabilities, but all children.” She added, “We also know that when children play together, stereotypes disappear and mindsets change. Sport is underrated as a vehicle for social change and impact. It is particularly underrated in schools where we often think about educating the mind and think of sport only as an extracurricular activity. But we also need to think about educating the heart, and when we teach empathy, understanding, perspective taking and courage – that is education of the heart.”
The summit was abuzz with activities, starting with a series of Special Olympics Unified Sports® competitions that saw athletes and Unified partners competing side by side, embodying the spirit of unity and friendship that Special Olympics fosters. These moments on the field were a live demonstration of the Summit's core message: “Together, We Are Better.”
The global Summit was set in motion with a keynote speech delivered by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Minister of Education, H.E. Sarah bint Yousef Al Amiri who highlighted the transformative role of inclusive education in national development.
In her keynote address, H.E. Sarah bint Yousef Al Amiri, Minister of Education, reaffirmed the UAE’s dedication to fostering a supportive and enabling environment for students of determination, emphasising that they are at the heart of the nation’s visionary developmental agenda. She highlighted the UAE’s commitment to their empowerment through strategic frameworks designed to ensure that all members of society, including people of determination, are afforded equitable opportunities.
H.E. further elaborated on the Ministry’s collaborative efforts with key stakeholders to create comprehensive policies and implement effective programmes and initiatives that facilitate the seamless integration of students of determination into the educational landscape. These efforts support students at every stage of their educational journey, ensuring they are provided with promising pathways to meaningful futures within their communities.
Another highly anticipated session was the Fireside Chat with H.E. Dr. Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi, UAE Minister of Sports, who discussed the country’s commitment to a fully inclusive sporting community that invests in the development and empowerment of all youth as a central pillar of the National Sports Strategy 2031.
His Excellency said: “Investing in social inclusion has a tremendous multiplier effect on society as a whole that has the potential to quadruple when you can make a real and lasting impact on our youth. The Ministry of Sports is focused on building a grassroots movement for an inclusive and unified sporting culture that begins in our schools and extends to all aspects of life. This kind of cultural movement helps build overall social cohesiveness across our many diverse communities. And for individual students, the field of sports provides a powerful platform to develop skills that are key to future success, such as social, emotional and leadership skills as well as the ability to communicate and connect with others.”
Zayed University hosted the event, with its Acting Vice President, Professor Michael Allen, highlighting their innovative Student Accessibility Services, which equip students of determination with the tools to excel. "Our university is a microcosm of what we aspire to achieve globally – an inclusive academic environment where every student can pursue excellence."
The transformative two-day global summit successfully explored global, innovative strategies, forged new partnerships while strengthening existing ones, and reinforced a global commitment to inclusion that transcends borders, from Abu Dhabi to the world.
The Special Olympics Global Center for Inclusion in Education, based in Abu Dhabi, serves as a hub for global thought leadership for inclusive education through research, policy, and programming.