Special Olympics UAE Launches a New Training Camp Part of UAE – Japan Women’s Football and Friendship Program
- The program hosted by UAE Football Association and organized by Special Olympics UAE, kicked off on December 2 and continues till December 8, with 27 Emirati and Japanese participants
- The program is a collaboration with Japan International Cooperation Center and Japan Football Federation for Persons with Intellectual Disability
- The 8-day comprehensive football program will deepen mutual knowledge exchange through joint activities
Abu Dhabi – United Arab Emirates, December 5, 2023: Special Olympics UAE organized an exchange program titled UAE – Japan Women’s Football Friendship Program, in collaboration with Japan International Cooperation Center (JICE), and Japan Football Federation for Persons with Intellectual Disability (JFFID).
The program builds on a similar program that was hosted by the UAE Football Association in January 2023. The training camp activities will take place at the UAE Football Association’s national teams training center in Dubai, between December 3-8, 2023. 10 Emirati athletes and four coaches and staff members will join the program, along with eight Japanese athletes and five coaches and staff members.
Special Olympics UAE Women’s Unified Football Team and Japan National Football Team for Women with Intellectual Impairment will take part in an extensive joint training program, which supports the UAE’s National Strategy for Empowerment of Emirati Women 2023 – 2031. The strategy was launched during August 2023 by H.H. Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women’s Union (GWU), President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, and Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation (FDF), to achieve women’s comprehensive participation in all sectors and promote their empowerment and leadership.
Throughout the program, athletes from both countries will participate in friendly matches, joint training sessions, as well as cultural exchange activities. JICE will work with Special Olympics UAE coaches to support the active participation of women with disabilities in football, advance the technical aspects of football for People of Determination with intellectual and developmental challenges, and strengthen the collaboration between the two countries in the realm of promoting sports among People of Determination.
His Excellency Talal Al Hashemi, National Director of Special Olympics UAE, said: “We are proud to see this program with our partners at the Japan International Cooperation Center (JICE), and Japan Football Federation for Persons with Intellectual Disability (JFFID) come to life. It builds on our collaboration earlier this year, when our Unified Women Football Team was invited to Japan to train with their Japanese peers, as part of the World Games Berlin 2023 preparations. Knowledge exchange will enable us to contribute to the UAE’s efforts that aim to prioritize the SDGs 5 and 10 on gender equality and elimination of inequality among people and countries. We thank the UAE Football Association for fostering this program, and our Japanese stakeholders for their commitment and diligence in executing a totally unique exchange program for our athletes and coaches.”
Mohammed Abdullah bin Hazzam Al Dhaheri, Secretary-General of the UAE Football Association (UAEFA) said: “Supporting Special Olympics UAE, specifically on Women’s football activities, is one of the federation’s priorities. We aim to strengthen the advancement of the UAE in women’s sports, and we are excited to kick off with football. Special Olympics UAE Women’s Unified Football Team has achieved remarkable success over the past two years, and we hope to be part of their inspiring accomplishments in the future.”
In January 2023, 16 members of the Special Olympics UAE Women’s Unified Football Team participated in a training camp in Japan, including six Special Olympics UAE Athletes, five Unified Partners, their coach, and supporting technical and administrative staff. The new UAE – Japan Women’s Football Friendship Program is a continuation of the bilateral efforts to advance athletes of Determination’s participation in sports, specifically football.
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About Special Olympics UAE:
In October 2017, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, announced Special Olympics UAE as an independent organization dedicated to changing the lives of people with intellectual disabilities. Her Highness Sheikha Maryam Bint Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan was appointed as the Honorary President, and Her Excellency Shamma Bint Suhail Al Mazrui, Minister of Community Development as Chairperson of the Board of Trustees.
The organization aims to empower people with intellectual and developmental disabilities through sports while providing them with leadership opportunities to help them display their talents and integrate them with the mainstream society.
Special Olympics UAE has launched a variety of community programs, including those focused on families and young athletes. It has also introduced a number of initiatives to empower people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to create a more inclusive society.
The Special Olympics of the UAE received international recognition from the International Special Olympics Foundation-USA in December 2017.
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