With an aim to promote sports and encourage the participation of athletics, among people of determination with intellectual or developmental disabilities, Expo 2020 Dubai and Special Olympics UAE come together to sign a Memorandum of Understanding.
The signing of the MoU facilitates the ongoing use of the event’s Sports, Fitness and Wellbeing Hub. The people of determination will be able to experience the 5,400 sqm space with an extensive range of sports activities like guided bicycle tours that will take them around 192 Country Pavilions, a platform offering a range of instructor-led classes, a multi-purpose sports court and a gym and fitness studio. Additionally, the Unified Arts project by the Special Olympics UAE called ‘Flowers of Hope’—the first public artwork crafted in collaboration with artists who are people of determination in the region. The exhibition will go on display at Mission Possible – The Opportunity Pavilion from December until March 31, 2022.
The display, ‘Flowers of Hope,’ made up of seven flowers representing the seven Emirates have been created from decorated palm fronds painted by 58 artists and their families and are held in place by metal bases. The work has been crafted by renowned Emirati artist and designer, Azza Al Qubaisi. The agreement was signed by Talal Al Hashemi, National Director of Special Olympics UAE, and Mohammed Alhashmi, Chief Technology Officer, Expo 2020 Dubai, and four other Special Olympics UAE Athletes.
For the collaboration, the Special Olympics UAE will work alongside Expo 2020 Dubai to develop a calendar with different activities and training programmes for children and adults of all abilities. The agreement between Special Olympics UAE and Expo 2020 Dubai will pave a way for the physical and emotional wellbeing of people of determination, contribute to their social integration, development of communication and teamwork skills, and build their confidence.