The Olympics Sports team Abdul Rahim and Muhammad Saeed, Abu Dhabi, Mar 14, 2019: Special Olympics athletes will have the chance to show off their sporting skills alongside a number of NFL players, football legends and Olympians at Special Olympics World Games Abu Dhabi 2019 as part of a series of Unified Sports Experiences (NFL stars football legends).
The Unified Sports Experiences, which began on 13 March with former figure skater Michelle Kwan competing in golf, will continue until 20 March, featuring a series of exciting activations and clinics.
NFL stars Jamaal Charles, now retired, and Joe Haden through his foundation, 1 Strong All Great, will also be sharing their expertise thanks to a partnership with the Emirates American Football League.
Pittsburgh Steelers’ cornerback, Haden and former Jacksonville Jaguars running back Charles will be leading an American football clinic on 16 and 17 March from 9am – 12pm at Zayed Sports City.
Taking to the football pitch are Brazilian World Cup winners Romario and Cafu as well as former Chelsea and Marseille striker Didier Drogba.
Ex-Ivory Coast captain Drogba will be interacting with the Special Olympic athletes on Friday 15 March during a clinic and will be joined by fellow legends Cafu and Romario every day at Zayed Sports City from 17-20 March.
Olympic gold medallist and one of the most decorated female Olympians in the world, Allyson Felix, will also lead a sprint clinic as part of the experiences.
This will be Felix’s second visit to the UAE after she took on Kobe Bryant’s challenge to coach Special Olympics athletes back in November 2017.
Special Olympics athletes will also have the opportunity to participate in two football clinics with Manchester City Football Academy.
Students from New York University Abu Dhabi will be lending their skills and will help run the Unified Sports Experiences and help coach participating teams.
The Unified Sports Experiences will take place across the Games’ venues and on a dedicated Play and Live Unified Zone at Zayed Sports City.
While most of the experiences will see honoured guests, VIPs and sponsors participating, the public can help create a vibrant atmosphere by cheering on the athletes.
The experiences aim to promote inclusion and break down barriers by bringing together people with and without intellectual disabilities and allowing them to play on teams alongside each other.
Special Olympics World Games Abu Dhabi 2019 will be the most unified World Games in the 50-year history of the Special Olympics movement with more than 7,500 athletes from over 190 nations competing.
The Local Organizing Committee (LOC) of Special Olympics World Games Abu Dhabi 2019 has played an active role in promoting inclusivity in communities across the UAE and has held several successful unified events, including the popular ‘Walk Unified’ initiative. —- SWOG2019
UNIFIED SPORTS EXPERIENCE SCHEDULE
| Date | Sport | Venue | Time |
| Wednesday 13 March | Golf | Yas Links | 07:30-14:00 |
| Friday 15 March | Football | Zayed Sports City | 16:00-18:00 |
| Saturday 16 March | Table Tennis | ADNEC | 17:30-19:00 |
| Beach Volleyball | Corniche | 20:00-22:00 | |
| Sunday 17 March | Handball | ADNEC | 14:00-16:00 |
| Football | Zayed Sports City | 16:00-18:00 | |
| Basketball | ADNEC | 18:30-20:30 | |
| Monday 18 March | Badminton | ADNEC | 13:30-15:00 |
| Kayaking | Sailing and Yacht Club | 14:00-16:00 | |
| Football | Zayed Sports City | 16:00-18:00 | |
| Tuesday 19 March | Tennis | Zayed Sports City | 14:00-16:00 |
| Bowling | Zayed Sports City | 16:00-18:00 | |
| Football | Zayed Sports City | 16:00-18:00 | |
| Volleyball | ADNEC | 19:00-21:00 | |
| Wednesday 20 March | Bocce | ADNEC | 13:30-15:30 |
| Football | Zayed Sports City | 18:00-19:45 |
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