KUWAIT CITY, April 25: Kuwait's Special Olympics announced on Tuesday their continued readiness to participate in the 16th Special Olympics World Games, which will be held in Berlin, Germany from June 12 to 26. The announcement came during the Kuwaiti Olympiad ceremony, which was attended by Director General of the Public Authority for Disability, Bibi Al-Amiri, Chargé d'Affaires at the US Embassy, Jim Hollisteder, the US Army's 28th Division, German Ambassador Hans-Christian Freiherr, and a number of sports leaders.

Speaking on the occasion, Al-Amiri said that the participation of a team belonging to people with mental disabilities on behalf of the country abroad is a tribute to all workers in this field and "a source of pride and honor." She appreciated the efforts of the Kuwaiti Olympics in developing the skills of the team players and developing their capabilities to advance the sport of persons with disabilities. She also stressed that the services provided, whether by the Disability Authority, official agencies or various public benefit associations in the country, are a "societal responsibility."

Director of the Kuwaiti Olympiad, Rehab Bouresli, affirmed the concerted efforts to achieve advanced levels in the upcoming international tournament, for which preparations have been made for nearly six continuous months, stressing the continuation of preparations for this event. Bouresli said that the athletes were selected according to a mechanism that seeks to include the largest possible number in order to develop and refine their talent, and thus form an integrated team for regional and international participation. This was done in cooperation with schools, centers, clubs, and associations of public interest concerned with the sport of people with various mental disabilities.

The team from Kuwait will participate in 10 individual and team games, including athletics, equestrian, swimming, basketball, and cycling, in the World Games that will be held in Berlin. The event will see the participation of about 7,000 athletes from different countries of the world in 26 sports, in addition to 10,000 volunteers for the organization.

In her statement, Bouresli expressed her thanks to the German diplomatic corps for harnessing all means for Kuwait's participation in the global tournament, as well as to the Chargé d'Affaires of the US Embassy and officials of official agencies, in addition to athletes without disabilities, for their participation in forming the team alongside their peers with intellectual disabilities, in pursuit of the policy of inclusion and inclusion.

Hollisteder praised the State of Kuwait and the Kuwaiti Special Olympics for their efforts in encouraging and motivating sports for people with different disabilities. He stressed the importance of integrating athletes with disabilities with their healthy counterparts, in conjunction with community development, which aims to develop skills and improve performance in various fields.

The announcement of Kuwait's participation in the Special Olympics World Games is a testament to the country's commitment to promoting inclusivity and providing opportunities for people with disabilities to showcase their talents in various sports. The event is a great platform for athletes from different countries to come together and celebrate the spirit of sportsmanship, determination, and camaraderie. We wish the Kuwaiti team all the very best for the upcoming tournament