Middle East/North Africa

The first-ever Pan African Games provided a one of a kind experience, including in Healthy Athletes, with 1845 screenings in just 5 days!

The Special Olympics 1st Pan African Games, held 23rd – 31st January in Egypt, Cairo, brought together athletes from the Special Olympics African and Middle East North Africa regions.

Through inclusion, Nada has been able to channel her passion for sports and turn it into her career. As a member of the workforce, she now has influence in her community.

For us, 2019 has been about bringing people with and without intellectual disabilities together. As we look to 2020, help us continue our work towards building an inclusive world.

The first ever Special Olympics Pan African Games will take place in Cairo, 23-31 January, 2020 under the auspices of HE Abdel Fattah El Sisi, the Egyptian President.

Give us the confidence to not just survive but thrive in life.

Under the patronage of the Ministry of Health and made possible by the Golisano Foundation and other local partners, Special Olympics Lebanon hosted its first health conference.

Special Olympics United Arab Emirates athlete Chaica Al Qassimi speaks on a panel at the UN titled, “1 Billion Voices: Making the Invisible Visible: The Power of Sports and Expressive Arts,” about her story of the power of inclusion in sport.

On Monday, June 10th, Special Olympics International, in partnership with the United Nations Division for Inclusive Social Development of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs and the Permanent Mission of Ecuador to the United Nations will host a panel discussion at the United Nations in conjunction with the 12th session of the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Over 100 law enforcement officers and Special Olympics athletes, the Guardians of the Flame, carried the Flame of Hope, throughout all seven of the United Arab Emirates before safely delivering it to the Opening Ceremony in Abu Dhabi.