Special Olympics movement creates change -in pictures

  • Emirati athlete Almezin Jasim says playing sports makes her feel confident on and off the badminton court. Photo: Almezin Jasim
    Emirati athlete Almezin Jasim says playing sports makes her feel confident on and off the badminton court. Photo: Almezin Jasim
  • Special Olympics athlete Alyazia Al Mansouri has earned her place on the football field as a defender in a unified team. Pawan Singh / The National
    Special Olympics athlete Alyazia Al Mansouri has earned her place on the football field as a defender in a unified team. Pawan Singh / The National
  • Emirati Almezin Jasim makes a point during an interview in Abu Dhabi. Pawan Singh / The National
    Emirati Almezin Jasim makes a point during an interview in Abu Dhabi. Pawan Singh / The National
  • Emirati athlete Almezin Jasiml says she will never let autism define her. Photo: Almezin Jasim
    Emirati athlete Almezin Jasiml says she will never let autism define her. Photo: Almezin Jasim
  • Aarti Shah says taking up powerlifting has transformed her life. Photo: Shah family
    Aarti Shah says taking up powerlifting has transformed her life. Photo: Shah family
  • Aarti Shah speaks at TEDx about her journey to fitness and how she was able to break the barriers surrounding her Down syndrome diagnosis. Photo: Shah family
    Aarti Shah speaks at TEDx about her journey to fitness and how she was able to break the barriers surrounding her Down syndrome diagnosis. Photo: Shah family
  • Aarti Shah has won medals in national and international powerlifting competitions. Photo: Shah family
    Aarti Shah has won medals in national and international powerlifting competitions. Photo: Shah family
  • Salyne El Samarany, vice president of the Special Olympics Global Centre, says only when people recognise the potential of people with disability do they realise how small changes in policy can make a big difference. Pawan Singh / The National
    Salyne El Samarany, vice president of the Special Olympics Global Centre, says only when people recognise the potential of people with disability do they realise how small changes in policy can make a big difference. Pawan Singh / The National
  • Tala Al Ramahi, chief strategy officer of Reaching the Last Mile, says it is vital to foster a generation of young advocates that truly care about inclusion. Photo: Reaching the Last Mile
    Tala Al Ramahi, chief strategy officer of Reaching the Last Mile, says it is vital to foster a generation of young advocates that truly care about inclusion. Photo: Reaching the Last Mile
  • Children perform during the opening of the Special Olympics Global Centre Summit. Pawan Singh / The National
    Children perform during the opening of the Special Olympics Global Centre Summit. Pawan Singh / The National
  • Minister of Education Sarah Al Amiri pledged that each student’s needs would be understood and met efficiently 'leaving no one behind' at the Special Olympics Global Centre summit at Zayed University in Abu Dhabi. Pawan Singh / The National
    Minister of Education Sarah Al Amiri pledged that each student’s needs would be understood and met efficiently 'leaving no one behind' at the Special Olympics Global Centre summit at Zayed University in Abu Dhabi. Pawan Singh / The National
  • UAE Minister of Sports Ahmad Al Falasi said building a sporting culture in schools could change mindsets and embrace inclusion. Pawan Singh / The National
    UAE Minister of Sports Ahmad Al Falasi said building a sporting culture in schools could change mindsets and embrace inclusion. Pawan Singh / The National
  • Special Olympics International Chairman Timothy Shriver speaks of how important it is to teach values early on in schools so inclusion did not remain an abstract concept. Pawan Singh / The National
    Special Olympics International Chairman Timothy Shriver speaks of how important it is to teach values early on in schools so inclusion did not remain an abstract concept. Pawan Singh / The National
  • Guests at the inaugural session hosted by ambassadors of the Special Olympics movement at a summit organised by the Special Olympics Global Centre at Zayed University in Abu Dhabi. Pawan Singh / The National
    Guests at the inaugural session hosted by ambassadors of the Special Olympics movement at a summit organised by the Special Olympics Global Centre at Zayed University in Abu Dhabi. Pawan Singh / The National