The 2019 Special Olympics World Summer Games (, ) were theh 15th summer Special Olympics, a multi-sport event for athletes with intellectual disabilities in the tradition of the Special Olympics movement. It was held in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, from March 14–21, 2019. ESPN offered international coverage of the Games.
The 2019 Special Olympics World Summer Games was the first Special Olympics event to take place in the Middle East, and were also the first to be held in spring in the host city, and the largest sports and humanitarian event recorded, featuring 200 National Programs, more than 7,000 athletes and 20,000 registered volunteers. Since 2017 and following its national policy, the United Arab Emirates coined the term "determination" instead of "disability", referring to disabled people as "People of Determination".
Host selection Three finalists were chosen from the countries which had submitted bids to host the Games: Australia, Germany (which was later chosen to host the 2023 Games), and South Africa. However, all three countries had withdrawn their bids by April 2015.
In November 2016, it was announced that the Emirate of Abu Dhabi would host the 2019 Summer Games. This was the first time that the Special Olympics were to be held in the Middle East / North Africa Region. Due to the region's extreme climate, the Games were held during the local late winter/early spring season for the first time, from March 14–21, 2019.
Ceremonies Opening ceremony
The closing ceremony took place on 14 March 2019 at the Zayed Sports City Stadium, which also held the FIFA Club World Cup in 2017 and 2018 and the 2019 AFC Asian Cup. The headliners of the ceremonies included Avril Lavigne, Hussain Al Jassmi, Assala Nasri, Tamer Hosny, Paul Oakenfold, Sumi Jo, Now United, and Luis Fonsi.
Closing ceremony The closing ceremony took place on 21 March 2019 at the Zayed Sports City Stadium where the Special Olympics flag was handed over from Abu Dhabi to Jämtland County, Sweden as the hosts of the 2021 Special Olympics World Winter Games. The headliners of the ceremonies were Nicole Scherzinger, Keala Settle, Now United, Hamad Al Ameri, Rashed Al Majed and Waleed Al Shami. Before the ceremonies, the music video of the Games' theme song "Right Where I'm Supposed To Be" by Ryan Tedder, Avril Lavigne, Luis Fonsi, Hussain Al Jassmi, Assala Nasri and Tamer Hosny was premiered.
Venues Events were held at nine venues across two emirates:
Abu Dhabi Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre - badminton, basketball, bocce, gymnastics, handball, judo, powerlifting, roller skating, table tennis, volleyball Abu Dhabi Sailing and Yacht Club - kayaking, sailing Al Forsan Resort - equestrian Corniche - beach volleyball Yas Links Golf Club - golf Yas Marina Circuit - cycling, triathlon Zayed Sports City - ceremonies, bowling, football, tennis
Dubai Police Officers' Club Stadium - athletics Hamdan Sports Complex - swimming
Sports The following competitions took place: 2019 Special Olympics World Summer Games
Medals
Medal table Unlike the Olympic and Paralympic Games, the Special Olympics do not provide an official medal table, since there is supposed to be no competitive pressure among the nations. Apart from the medals and placement ribbons, participants who were disqualified or did not finish their competition were also awarded with participation ribbons in order to promote sportsmanship. Nations
Participating nations
Below is a list of all 195 participating delegations. The number of competitors per delegation is indicated in parentheses. Delegations to the 2019 Special Olympics World Summer Games (according to the protocolar order) (Hellas)
(Serendib)
Bonaire (12)
(Bharat)
(Nippon)
(Host)
Marketing
Logo and branding
The logo was unveiled on March 25, 2017, during the handover at the closing ceremony of the 2017 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Graz, Austria. The logo was projected on the Burj Khalifa in Dubai. The logo was inspired by palm fronds woven together in an eastern Arabian cultural technique known in Gulf Arabic as (), with the Special Olympics symbol in a red circle in the middle.
Corporate sponsorship
Sponsors of the 2019 Special Olympics World Summer GamesPresenting Partner
Abu Dhabi National Oil CompanyOfficial Partners
Abu Dhabi Department of Energy ADNEC Group Aldar Properties Al Masaood LLC (Nissan) Coca-Cola Emaar Properties Etihad Airways Etisalat First Abu Dhabi Bank Mubadala Investment CompanyOfficial Sponsors
Emirates Transport LuLu Hypermarket Meydan Nirvana Travel & Tourism NMC Health Noon SoftBank GroupOfficial Suppliers
Abu Dhabi Global Market Careem CreatorUp! Crescent Petroleum Daman EF Education First Ernst & Young Essilor GL events (Wicked) Golisano Foundation iWire KPMG Lions Clubs International Marriott International Perfect Sense Pierce Footwear Prometheus Medical Safilo SAS Institute Starkey Hearing Foundation Starkey Hearing TechnologiesOfficial Supporters
Al Sahraa CYVIZ Deloitte Dubai Airports Company Duracell Falcon Eye Drones Flow Solutions Hadef & Partners iSpatial Techno Solutions Kempinski (Emirates Palace Abu Dhabi) Khateb and Alami Liberty Sport Riedel Communications Salem Al Shueibi Jewellery SAP (Tyconz) SEDRA Foundation Seiko Smart Design SmartKiosk TMS twofour54 Zayed Higher Organization for Humanitarian Care and Special Needs
References
External links Official website