ABU DHABI: The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company welcomed the Special Olympics Flame of Hope to its headquarters this morning, as the Flame of Hope Torch made its way across Abu Dhabi,on a route starting at the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and ending at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center, to raise awareness for the Special Olympics movement.
His Excellency Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Minister of State and ADNOC Group CEO, together with His Excellency Mohammed Abdullah Al Junaibi, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi World Games Higher Committee and hundreds of ADNOC employees, welcomed the Torch Run team.
The Run team was made up of five athletes of determination and 16 officers from the Abu Dhabi Police. They were joined by Peter Wheeler, CEO Special Olympics, Abu Dhabi; Michelle Kwan,International Special Olympics Committee Board Member and the most decorated figure skater in U.S. history; and Raha Moharrak, the youngest Arab and first Saudi woman to scale Mount Everest.
Earlier this morning, the Special Olympics delegation met with H.E. Dr. Al Jaber when they thanked ADNOC for its partnership with the movement and commended the Group for its commitment to building an inclusive society in the UAE through sports.
Dr. Al Jaber said: “ADNOC is proud to be the main sponsor of the 2019 World Games. The Games reflect the values of respect and inclusion that our Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed, advocated. At ADNOC, in line with UAE Leadership’s vision, we are an equal-opportunity employer and have cultivated an inclusive work environment for all our employees. We are committed to supporting our nation in building an inclusive society.”
ADNOC is the ‘Presenting’ sponsor of the 2019 Special Olympics World Games in Abu Dhabi, when approximately 7,000 athletes, from 170 nations,will descend on Abu Dhabi for more than two weeks of competition. Male and female athletes with intellectual disabilities from numerous cultures and backgrounds will compete alongside each other in a worldwide competition that showcases their sporting abilities across 24 sports, including gymnastics, basketball, cycling, figure skating, football and golf.This year, Abu Dhabi hosts the Special Olympics Middle-East North Africa (MENA) 9th Regional Games, which runs until March 23.
This morning’s 20-minute ceremony kicked off with the raising of the Special Olympics flag to mark the occasion. ADNOC employees, waving blue and red flags, cheered the Torch Run team as they made their way into the ADNOC forecourt.After the Flame of Hope was passed from one athlete to the other, the team departed amidst thundering cheers.
Earlier this month, as part of ADNOC’s commitment to the values of the Special Olympics, the ADNOC School in Sas Al Nakhl hosted students from the Zayed Higher Organization for Humanitarian Care and Special Needs, where they were invited to learn and engage alongside students from the School. Activities included a friendly game of soccer and collaboration to build geometric models and trophies at the school’s new Lego Innovation Studio. Thetrophies from the activities will be presented to the UAE Special Olympics team participating in this week’s Regional Games.
“It is important that people of determination are included in all activities in the society,” said Reem Al Buainain, Corporate Social Responsibility Manager, ADNOC. “At ADNOC, we are pleased that our CSR focus is aligned with the UAE leadership’s vision of inclusion.”
ADNOC’s Corporate Social Responsibility efforts are centered infour areas: culture and community, education and innovation, safety and environment as well as wellbeing and health. ADNOC’s aim is to create a positive and lasting impact on UAE society.
