Emirates International School – Jumeirah proudly welcomed over 100 Japanese athletes participating in the Special Olympics World Games Abu Dhabi 2019 held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE’s Armed Forces.
The Japanese delegation attended a special assembly hosted at the school’s theatre, which included a welcome speech by Ms Pratibha Rao, School Principal, Emirates International School, musical performances presented by EIS-Jumeirah Primary School students and cultural dances presented by the group Tender Hearts Arena and EIS-Jumeirah Arabic students. The athletes and students also engaged in activities including table tennis, football, cooking classes, visual arts, and badminton.
Pratibha Rao, School Principal, Emirates International School – Jumeirah said, “The initiative is a memorable moment and a great opportunity for cross-cultural exchange and immersion. The Japanese delegation prompted our students not only to learn more about the Special Olympics event but also Japanese culture itself.”
The Special Olympics World Games Abu Dhabi 2019 has been coined the largest sports and humanitarian event in the world in 2019 with over 7,500 athletes and 3,000 coaches, representing more than 190 nations, participating in 24 officially sanctioned Olympic-style sports in world-class venues throughout Abu Dhabi and Dubai from 14 March to 21 March 2019. The event is an integral part of local, national and regional plans to expand opportunities for people of determination in line with Abu Dhabi and the UAE’s shared vision of a unified society.