Muscat – The Sultanate of Oman, represented by Special Olympics Oman, is set to compete in the prestigious 16th edition of the Special Olympics World Games  to be held in Berlin, Germany, from June 17 to 25.

Oman’s delegation will be leaving for Oberhausen, Germany, on Monday to engage in the Host Town Programme from June 12 to 15. This programme aims to spotlight the integration of individuals with intellectual disabilities within the society. 

Once this introductory programme concludes, all delegations will gather in Berlin to partake in the opening ceremony and then various competitions.

Comprised of 36 players with intellectual disabilities and nine unified partners, Oman’s delegation will participate in a wide range of games, including athletics, unified badminton, unified bocce, bowling, equestrian, futsal, golf, weightlifting, roller skating, sailing, swimming, table tennis, and unified tennis.

Mohammed Salim al Rashdi, chairman of the Board of Directors of Special Olympics Oman and head of the delegation, said that a series of trials were conducted to select the players. He further spoke about the intense training programme that the participants underwent in recent months. Rashdi expressed his admiration for the delegation’s high morale and expressed hope for outstanding achievements in the games.

Special Olympics Oman has previously taken part in the Special Olympics World Games, securing an impressive 48 medals during the last edition in Abu Dhabi in 2019.

The upcoming Games in Berlin will feature 26 Olympic sports with participation of 7,000 athletes. The official opening ceremony will be held on June 17 at the Olympia stadium in Berlin.

Alongside the World Games, several conferences will be held, including the Global Athlete Congress (June 15-19), the Global Youth Leadership Summit (June 16-20), and the Global Forum for Inclusion – Partnering for Action (June 17-18). These conferences provide invaluable opportunities for discussions and collaboration within the realm of inclusive sports.