The Special Olympics announced the selection of a team that will participate in the Winter Special Olympics in Turin in 2025. The team will consist of 30 members, including the president of the National Olympic Directors of the Special Olympics of the United Arab Emirates, Talal Al Hashimi, and 11 athletes with limited capabilities. The athletes will compete in six disciplines: cross-country skiing, slalom, figure skating, alpine skiing, short-track, and snowboarding. The UAE team is considered to have the largest number of participants compared to other delegations from the countries of the Middle East and North Africa.
Talal Al Hashimi expressed hope for the continuation of the successful work that began at the last World Summer Special Olympics in Abu Dhabi in 2019, and for the athletes to achieve new heights and elevate the country's image on the podiums in Italy. According to the official statement, participants in the Winter Olympics Turin 2025 were selected from various clubs of the Special Olympics in the country and underwent intensive training in the facilities in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, as well as at an international training camp in Uzbekistan.
The last training camp will take place in Dubai and "Sports Society" in March before the delegation departs for Turin. Among the participants of the Winter Special Olympics Turin 2025 are: Youssef Al Mulla from Sharjah for community services, Moza Al Hamid from the Special Olympics club in Abu Dhabi, Abdul Al Naimi from the club in Ras al-Khaimah, Mina Al Mazrouei from the club in Abu Dhabi, Khalifa Al Ameri from the club in Dubai, Zeliha Al Mansouri from the club in Ajman, Khalid Al Khurai from the club in Abu Dhabi, Salma Al Salami from the club in Abu Dhabi, Ahmed Al Jilani from the club in Abu Dhabi, Hamda Al Hosni from the club in Abu Dhabi, and Hazaa Al Muhairi from the club in Abu Dhabi.
