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From left, Special Olympics Middle East/North Africa Managing Director Ayman Abdel Wahab; H.H. Sheikh Hashr Bin Maktoum Al Maktoum, Chairman of Department of Information (who accepted a Special Olympics award on behalf of H.H. General Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashed Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, United Arab Emirates Defense Minister); HRH Princess Lala Amina, Honorary Chairperson, Special Olympics Morocco; and Special Olympics Chairman and CEO Timothy Shriver. [All photos courtesy Special Olympics Middle East/North Africa] |
Special Olympics Middle East/North Africa recently held a Tribute Grand Gala celebrating both the Special Olympics Movement's 35th anniversary and the opening of the Regional Communications & Partnership Development office in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Held under the auspices of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashed Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and United Arab Emirates Defense Minister, the Gala took place at the Emirates Towers Hotel in Dubai on 24 March. The region recognized 35 Program supporters, among them members of the royal family, First Ladies and high-ranking officials.
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A press conference, attended by a number of major media channels in Dubai, was held at the Dubai Press Club 24 March 2004 to announce that evening's gala celebration. Hareb Al Jassemi, a Special Olympics United Arab Emirates athlete, discussed his experience with Special Olympics to the press; here Special Olympics Chairman and CEO Timothy Shriver listens to Jassemi's presentation. |
Hosted by Special Olympics Chairman and CEO Timothy Shriver, the Gala was delighted by the performance of renowned Egyptian pianist Omar Khairat, who was accompanied by a group of 20 musicians during his performance.
After a videotape presentation of Program athletes competing at both the 2003 Middle East/North Africa Regional Games in Lebanon and the 2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Dublin, Ireland, speeches were given by Shriver; H.E. Sheikh Mohamed Bin Sakr Al Qassemi, Chairman, Special Olympics Emirates; and Ayman Abdel Wahab, Special Olympics Middle East/North Africa Managing Director.
Said Shriver, "Special Olympics is honored to hold such a great celebration in the United Arab Emirates. The great spirit I have seen here to change the world through the Movement is a great sign of things to come in the region."
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From left, Special Olympics Middle East/North Africa Managing Director Ayman Abdel Wahab; Special Olympics Chairman and CEO Timothy Shriver; H.H. Sheik Salman bin Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa, Crown Prince of Bahrain, Commander in Chief of Bahrain Defense Forces; and Major General Sheikh Daij Bin Khalifa, Chairman, Special Olympics Bahrain. |
The Gala also included an awards ceremony, during which the Special Olympics International Award was presented to 15 supporters, while 20 supporters were presented with the Special Olympics Regional Award in recognition of their outstanding efforts on behalf of the Movement. Please see below for a complete list of award recipients.
The Gala was sponsored by Nokia; Nissan; National Bank of Dubai; HP; Afridi & Angell; Dubai Media City; Dubai Internet City; Knowledge Village; Kraft Foods; American Express Bank; Proctor & Gamble; Egyptair; Pepsi; and Gillette. Alongside the Gala were a series of awareness-raising and promotional events.
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The American University of Dubai Unified Sports participants pause from their basketball competition to pose with (back row) Special Olympics Chairman and CEO Timothy Shriver, Special Olympics Middle East/North Africa Managing Director Ayman Abdel Wahab, and Special Olympics Chief Marketing Officer Jerry Welsh. |
A number of media assembled at the Dubai Press Club earlier that day for a press conference announcing the Gala. Attendees included a number of major media channels in Dubai, as well as Emirate and Gulf dailies The conference was also attended by Special Olympics United Arab Emirates athlete Hareb Al Jassemi, who presented his experience with Special Olympics to the press. "Being part of the Special Olympics Family is a an honor," said Jassemi. "What I achieved for myself and my country was a dream that finally came true through my practice of sports."
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Special Olympics Middle East/North Africa athletes welcomed Shriver to Dubai by creating and signing a banner. |
A roundtable discussion with more than 20 students of different nationalities from the American University in Dubai took place on the university's campus. Shriver and Wahab led discussions which focused on the Movement's mission and the benefit Special Olympics offers the community. The discussion was followed by an athletics and basketball Unified Sports® competition between Special Olympics Emirates athletes and university students.
The second half of the celebratory day saw the official opening of the Middle East/North Africa Communications & Partnership Development office in Dubai with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. A number of Program staff attended the celebration, which took place at the new office's Dubai Media City location.
"Today we are celebrating the opening of the Middle East/North Africa Communications & Partnership Development office in Dubai. I can see its vital role in realizing quality growth in the region, as well as helping us attain the goal of 110,000 athletes in the Program by the end of 2005," said Wahab.
Special Olympics Middle East/North Africa supports Programs in 23 countries and the region is working toward its goal of 110,000 athlete participants by 2005.
Special Olympics International Award
- HRH Princess Lala Amina, Honorary Chairperson, Special Olympics Morocco
- HRH Prince Sultan Bin Fahd Bin Abdel Aziz, President, Saudi Youth Welfare, and Honorary Chairman, Special Olympics Saudi Arabia
- H.E. General Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashed Al Maktoum
- H.E. Aisha Bint Ahmed Tolba, First Lady Of Mauritania
- HRH Prince Al Walid bin Talal
- H.E. Amr Moussa, Secretary General, The Arab League
- H.E. Andree Emile Lahoud, First Lady of Lebanon and Honorary Chairperson of Special Olympics Lebanon
- H.E. Asmaa Al Asad, First Lady of Syria and Honorary Chairperson of Special Olympics Syria
- H.E. Leila Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, First Lady of Tunisia
- Eng. Mohamed Muaamar Al-Qadafi, President, The Libyan National Olympic Committee and Honorary Chairperson of Special Olympics Libya
- H.E. Nazek El Harriri
- Her Majesty Queen Rania Al-Abdullah, Queen Of Jordan
- H.H. Shaikh Salman bin Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa, Crown Prince Of Bahrain and General Commander of Bahrain Defense Forces
- H.E. Suzanne Mubarak, First Lady Of Egypt and Honorary Chairperson of Special Olympics Egypt
- HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Crown Prince of Qatar and Chairman, Qatar National Olympic Committee
Special Olympics Regional Award
- H.E. Sheikh Mohamed Bin Sakr Al Qassemi
- H.H. Sheikha Sheikha Al Abdallah Al Subah, Honorary Chairperson, Special Olympics Kuwait
- H. H. Sheikh Abdel Rahman Bin Seoud, Chairman, Special Olympics Qatar
- HRH Prince Nawaf Bin Faisal Bin Abdel Aziz, Vice President, Saudi Youth Welfare
- Dr. Thowayba Al Barawany, Chairman, Special Olympics Oman
- Dr. Ismail Osman, Chairman, Special Olympics Egypt and , Board Member, Special Olympics
- Magda Moussa, President, Special Olympics Egypt
- Fatma Hassar, President, Special Olympics Morocco
- Mohamed Abdel Latif Jameel
- Bashir Ahmed, Afridi & Angell Legal Consultants
- Nasser Al Saleh, President, Special Olympics Saudi Arabia
- Dr. Kamal Taha, Chairman, Special Olympics Syria
- Dr. Gamal Meheisen, Chairman, Special Olympics Palestine
- Major General Daij Bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, Chairman, Special Olympics Bahrain
- H.E. Dr. Aly El Din Helal, Egyptian Minister of Youth
- Ibrahim Nafie, Chairman, Arab Press Syndicate
- Dr. Gholam Reza Ansari, Chairman, Special Olympics Iran
- HRH Prince Raad Bin Zeid, Chairman, Special Olympics Jordan
- H.E. Minister Bichara Merhej, Special Olympics Lebanon
- Hani Masri
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