UAE seeks 20,000 volunteers for 2019 Special Olympics

Volunteering roles will be available in a variety of areas.

Abu Dhabi 2019 has launched fresh drive to recruit the 20,000 volunteers needed for the massive March event.

As Abu Dhabi prepares to welcome more than 7,000 athletes to the Special Olympics World Games in 2019, the organising committee is looking for volunteers.

Abu Dhabi’s World Games host more than 170 countries competing in 24 sports - the most countries to ever participate in the Special Olympics.

The games will run from March 14 to 21 and will not be possible without thousands of volunteers giving their time. Individuals will be needed to help prepare and run events and competitions during the biggest humanitarian event in the world.

The committee hopes to attract 20,000 volunteers. To that end, it is holding a special event at Yas Mall in Abu Dhabi to register those interested until Saturday.

''You’ll be assuming severe essential roles, and, most importantly you will open your eyes and heart to a more hopeful, inclusive world. The experience is one you will never forget,'' the committee told prospective volunteers.

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Volunteers must be at least 14 years old and will also undergo pre-event online or face-to-face training. Some roles will be tailored according to skills of volunteers.

The areas available to volunteers include sports, technology, event, medical, delegation assistance liaison, communications, operations, guests service, language service and protocol.

Opportunities are also open for people with intellectual disabilities.

Abu Dhabi is no stranger to the Special Olympics – it has already successfully delivered the Special Olympics IX MENA Games 2018, where over 3,000 volunteers of all ages and nationalities gave more than 50,000 hours of their time to support more than 1,000 athletes from 31 countries.