UAE Special Olympics athletes are breaking new ground in a bid to represent Abu Dhabi in an international basketball competition.
Three “unified” teams, which include athletes with intellectual disabilities as well as those without, are taking part in the Abu Dhabi Sports Council 3X3 Quest Tour.
They will play 3x3 basketball, pronounced three-ex-three, which includes three players on each side, who compete on a half-sized court for a game lasting seven minutes, or no more than 10 minutes if it is tied.
It is the most widely played urban team sport in the world, a study commissioned by the International Olympic Committee found.
Traditional basketball games are played on a full court, with more players (five) and for a longer duration.
Both versions of the sport are played in the Olympics.
“3x3 helps players with lower abilities, because they just play on a half court,” said Amr Badawi, head of sports at Special Olympics UAE.
One unified team has already gained a place in the 3X3 Quest Tour finals on October 22, after winning three out of four matches against able-bodied teams.
The other unified two teams will compete this weekend for their place in the finals.
The winner will go on to represent Abu Dhabi in the Abu Dhabi Masters FIBA 3x3 World Tour, of men's 3x3 basketball teams representing global cities, which will be held in the capital at the end of the month.
The emirate last hosted the competition in 2016.
It is the first time a Special Olympics team has competed in such an event, said Mr Badawi.
“This is our first participation in a community event. We have a big acceptance in the community now. This has given our programmes a huge boost,” he said.
“And it’s helping us to prepare for the World Games, which will happen in Berlin in 2023. Basketball will be one of the main sports. So we are thrilled to have this opportunity.”
The three unified teams include 12 players in total, six of whom are Special Olympic athletes with intellectual disabilities.
“This is the message of the unified sport. This is real inclusion,” said Mr Badawi.
He said he was proud a unified team won a place in the finals, but winning was not the point in playing.
“To be honest when we are participating in any event, we are not focusing on winning,” he said.
“We are focusing on participating, we are focusing on friendship, focusing on the spirit. Winning is secondary. We are proud of course, but we are proud more that they are accepted in the community and we are playing with able-bodied people.”
UAE's Olympic legacy
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Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, applauds the UAE team during the opening ceremony of the Special Olympics World Games Abu Dhabi at Zayed Sports City. ( Ali Essa ) -
Sheikh Mohamed greets Majid Al Usaimi, National Director of the Special Olympics UAE during an MOU signing ceremony at Sea Palace. ( Mohamed Al Hammadi / Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi ) -
Sheikh Mohamed greets a member of the UAE Disabled Sports Federation during a Sea Palace barza.( Mohamed Al Hammadi / Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi ) -
Sheikh Mohamed stands for a photograph with members of the Special Olympics, during a Sea Palace barza. Seen with Dr Timothy Shriver, Chairman of the Special Olympics, Dr Ali bin Tamim, Director General of Abu Dhabi Media Company and other dignitaries. ( Mohamed Al Hammadi / Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi ) -
Sheikh Mohamed speaks with a participant during the Special Olympics Wold Games Abu Dhabi 2019 initiative "Walk Unified", at Umm Al Emarat Park, with Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohamed, Crown Prince of Dubai, and Sheikha Al Jalila bint Mohamed. ( Hamad Al Kaabi / Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi ) -
Sheikh Mohamed receives members of the UAE Special Olympics team, during a Sea Palace barza. ( Rashed Al Mansoori / Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi ) -
Sheikh Mohamed speaks with a participant during the Special Olympics Wold Games Abu Dhabi 2019 initiative "Walk Unified", at Umm Al Emarat Park, with Sheikh Hamdan. ( Hamad Al Kaabi / Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi ) — -
Mohamed Al Junaibi, Director of the President's Protocol Office at the UAE Ministry of Presidential Affairs and Chairman of the Special Olympics Higher Committee (back row, 7th R), stands for a group photo with members of the Higher Committee and Local Organizing Committee of the Special Olympics World Games Abu Dhabi 2019, at Emirates Palace. Seen with: Tala Al Ramahi, Chief Strategy Officer of the Special Olympics World Games Abu Dhabi 2019 (2nd R), Dr Ali Bin Tamim Director General, Abu Dhabi Media (3rd R), Saif Ghobash Director General, Department of Tourism and Culture Abu Dhabi (4th R), Mohamed Fadel Al Hameli Chairman, UAE Disabled Sports Federation (5th R), Khalfan Al Mazroui, Managing Director of the Special Olympics World Games Abu Dhabi 2019 (6th R), Dr Fahad Matar Al Neyadi Director General, General Secretariat of Executive Council (7th R), Sana Suhail Secretary General, Ministry of Community Development (8th R) and other dignitaries. ( Mohamed Al Hammadi / Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi ) -
Sheikh Mohamed greets a member of the UAE Disabled Sports Federation during a Sea Palace barza. ( Mohamed Al Hammadi / Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi ) -
Sheikh Mohamed stands for a photograph with participants during the Special Olympics Wold Games Abu Dhabi 2019 initiative "Walk Unified", at Umm Al Emarat Park. ( Mohamed Al Hammadi / Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi ) -
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces (3rd L) speaks with a participant during the in Special Olympics Wold Games Abu Dhabi 2019 initiative "Walk Unified", at Umm Al Emarat Park. ( Mohamed Al Hammadi / Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi ) --- -
Sheikh Mohamed receives members of the UAE Special Olympics team, during a Sea Palace barza. ( Rashed Al Mansoori / Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi ) -
Sheikh Mohamed and Sheikh Hamdan participate in the Special Olympics Wold Games Abu Dhabi 2019 initiative "Walk Unified", at Umm Al Emarat Park. ( Hamad Al Kaabi / Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi )
The Abu Dhabi Sports Council 3X3 Quest Tour final will be held on Friday, October 22. The winners will be awarded entry to play in the FIBA 3x3 World Tour Abu Dhabi Masters on October 29 and 30.
It will be the third time the city has hosted the tour.
The UAE has been a major promoter of the Special Olympics movement.
In 2019, Abu Dhabi hosted the Special Olympics World Games, welcoming thousands of athletes from all over the world for an uplifting celebration of sport's enduring ability to unite and provide opportunity to all.
The legacy of the global event is still being felt more than two years on, with the UAE's basketball players the latest to take a shot at showcasing their skills.
