With two months to go until the Special Olympics get under way in Abu Dhabi, red bands have begun cropping up on wrists of world leaders in a show of support for the World Games.
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, and Pakistan's prime minister, Imran Khan, were the latest to get behind the games after being pictured on Sunday proudly showing off their red wrist bands.
The photo was taken in Islamabad during an official visit to Pakistan by Sheikh Mohamed.
The wrist bands read 'meet the determined', referring to the athletes with intellectual disabilities who will be competing in the games in the UAE capital between March 14 and 21.
The Special Olympics is the world’s largest humanitarian sporting event and aims to empower people with disabilities, who are officially referred to as People of Determination in the UAE.
With less than a 100 days to go, more than 7,500 athletes from a record-breaking 192 countries are set to take part in the games that are being held in the Gulf for the first time.
People took to Twitter to praise the two leaders show of solidarity.
Dr Ahmed Raza showed gratitude to the leaders, saying: "Great people with great ambitions and causes, thank you @MohamedBinZayed, thank you @ImranKhanPTI and thank you UAE Ambassador."
Adeel Mirza tweeted: "Leaders of Nations. May Allah protect and keep then in good health".
Where as user @GlintingSoul said of the picture of the two leaders sporting red wristbands: "What a beautiful picture".
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Read more:
Special Olympics heads to Abu Dhabi in just 100 days
The UAE explained: Everything you need to know about the Special Olympic World Games
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed arrives in Pakistan
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Asia Cup Qualifier
Venue: Kuala Lumpur
Result: Winners play at Asia Cup in Dubai and Abu Dhabi in September
Fixtures:
Wed Aug 29: Malaysia v Hong Kong, Nepal v Oman, UAE v Singapore
Thu Aug 30: UAE v Nepal, Hong Kong v Singapore, Malaysia v Oman
Sat Sep 1: UAE v Hong Kong, Oman v Singapore, Malaysia v Nepal
Sun Sep 2: Hong Kong v Oman, Malaysia v UAE, Nepal v Singapore
Tue Sep 4: Malaysia v Singapore, UAE v Oman, Nepal v Hong Kong
Thu Sep 6: Final
Asia Cup
Venue: Dubai and Abu Dhabi
Schedule: Sep 15-28
Teams: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, plus the winner of the Qualifier
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