Dubai, UAE – 07 March 2019: To celebrate the upcoming Special Olympics World Games Abu Dhabi 2019 (14-21 March), Emirates Post is encouraging people to send messages of support to the participating Special Olympics UAE athletes. Post boxes and postcards, which have been designed by students and Abdulla Lutfy, Special Olympics UAE athlete, will be placed at various locations across the United Arab Emirates where members of the public can write personalised messages. These will then be delivered by Emirates Post to the UAE National team.

The activation will be located at Dubai Festival City on Sunday, 10 March (10am–9pm) and at venues hosting Special Olympics events including Zayed Sports City and Hamdan Sports Complex for the duration of the Games. 

Four of the five chosen postcard designs feature several winners of a unified art competition that took place last year across Dubai and Abu Dhabi schools; Danah from ADNOC school, Ann Sony, Jana S, Zayna and Shabiyaa from Adis Al Wathba school, and students from BSAK and Future Rehabilitation Center. The fifth design features a drawing done by the talented artist and Special Olympics UAE athlete, Abdullah Lutfy.

Commenting on this initiative, Obaid Mohammed Al Qatami, Acting Chief Commercial Officer of Emirates Post Group, said: “We are incredibly excited about the upcoming Special Olympics World Games, which promote values of acceptance and inclusion, and it is extremely fitting that they are being hosted in the UAE during the Year of Tolerance. As Abu Dhabi and Dubai prepare to host the world’s largest sports and humanitarian event, we wanted to build anticipation and give members of the public the opportunity to engage with the Special Olympics National Team who are representing the UAE amongst athletes travelling from all over the world for this prestigious event. The passion and dedication of these athletes is truly inspirational and we invite everyone to get behind them 100% by sending them a personal message of encouragement and support.”

Talal Al Hashemi, National Director of Special Olympics UAE, said: “This initiative will help to provide motivation for the athletes as they prepare to compete in the biggest Special Olympics World Games in the history of the event. We appreciate Emirates Posts’ commitment to Special Olympics and for furthering the ideals of inclusion.”

The Special Olympics World Games will take place in Abu Dhabi from 14-21 March 2019 and will welcome over 7,500 athletes from over 190 nations.