Abu Dhabi: Shaikh Nahyan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, and Barbara Eibinger-Miedl, Austrian Regional Minister for Economy, Tourism, Europe, Science and Research, attended the official signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two local organising committees for Special Olympics World Games Abu Dhabi 2019 and Special Olympics World Winter Games Austria 2017 yesterday.
The event was held at ADNOC headquarters and attended by Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of State in the UAE, Director-General and CEO of ADNOC, and Jaber Mohammad Al Suwaidi, Director General of the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Court.
Mohammad Abdullah Al Junaibi, Chairman of the Higher Committee of the Special Olympics World Games Abu Dhabi 2019, and Jurgen Winter, Chairman of Special Olympics World Winter Games Austria 2017, signed the agreement ensuring both countries will work together for the enhancement of the Games.
“The global partnership between the UAE committee organising the Special Olympics World Games 2019 in Abu Dhabi and the Austrian Committee from the World Special Olympics Winter Games Austria 2017 reflects the noble foundations of the UAE and the nation’s openheartedness towards the world by hosting the first Special Olympics Games in the Middle East,” said Shaikh Nahyan
“The event will enhance UAE’s position as a global leader and its pioneering role in planning and vision utilising existing advancements and expertise to prepare an outstanding experience at the Special Olympics World Games Abu Dhabi 2019, which will welcome 7,000 athletes from 170 countries in one of the largest sport and humanitarian events hosted for the first time in the Middle East,” said Shaikh Nahyan.
Al Junaibi speaking on the occasion said, “The Special Olympics World Winter Games held in the State of Styria was a huge success. It is wonderful to sit down with Governor Schutzenhofer, Jurgen Winter and Markus Pichler, the CEO of Special Olympics World Winter Games Austria 2017 and hear their stories from the Games. We are incredibly grateful for the local organising committee’s support and look forward to soaking up their knowledge and working together to put on the most unified Games in history.”
