The UAE Embassy presents Road To Abu Dhabi, a short documentary film on the Special Olympics World Games Abu Dhabi 2019, hosted in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Making history as the first-ever World Games hosted in the Middle East and North Africa, the film captures the UAE’s commitment to the Special Olympics organization and shared passion for global inclusion among people with intellectual disabilities, who are honored as “people of determination” in the UAE.
The documentary follows the extraordinary journey of three Special Olympics USA athletes, including Ken Richter, a Unified bocce athlete from Special Olympics Connecticut; Krystal Johnson, a tennis player from Special Olympics Southern California; and Garrett Ford, a powerlifter from Special Olympics Ohio. Providing an authentic look into what it takes to compete in the World Games, Road to Abu Dhabi navigates through each athlete's inspirational story of self-discipline, perseverance and determination in order to achieve their dreams of representing the United States at Special Olympics World Games.
Road to Abu Dhabi made its debut on March 5th, 2020, bringing together members of Congress, the UAE Embassy and Special Olympics athletes from all over the United States for the premiere. During the event, Ambassador Yousef Al Otaiba joined Special Olympics Chairman, Dr. Tim Shriver, to deliver a special message of hope and unity to those in attendance and to reflect on Special Olympics remarkable legacy of acceptance, inclusion and tolerance for those living with intellectual disabilities.
Recognized as the most Unified Games in the 50-year history of Special Olympics, the World Games in Abu Dhabi brought 7,500 athletes from over 190 countries to compete across 24 different Olympic-style sports between March 14 – 21, 2019.