Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company (ADNEC) today announced that it has completed preparations for the upcoming Special Olympics World Games Abu Dhabi 2019, set to run under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.

Making its debut in the MENA region from 14 to 21 March, the event is expected to draw the participation of over 7,500 athletes representing 190 countries, who will compete in 24 individual and team sports, in addition to 3,000 coaches.

ADNEC is supporting the Special Olympics World Games Abu Dhabi 2019 as a gold official partner and gold venue partner. The company’s flagship venue, the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, will host 11 indoor categories – the highest number of all venues this year – including badminton, basketball, judo, table tennis and volleyball.

As the countdown begins for the Special Olympics World Games Abu Dhabi 2019, ADNEC has mobilised all its resources to guarantee the success of the Games that will reinforce its reputation as the region’s preferred venue partner for major regional and global events. The state-of-the-art infrastructure and flexible facilities of the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre will enable several Special Olympics competitions to take place simultaneously, and are capable of accommodating the large number of athletes, coaches and spectators expected to attend the mega event.

The Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre enjoys a competitive edge over other venues in the region owing to its 133,000 square metres of interconnected floor space that meets the requirements of a wide variety of events and exhibitions. The venue has contributed to the continued success of several high-profile international events hosted in Abu Dhabi.

Meanwhile, ADNEC teams have been working around the clock to finalise the preparations and ensure that all facilities are ready to welcome athletes from all corners of the world.

The opening and closing ceremonies of the Special Olympics World Games Abu Dhabi 2019 will take place at the nearby Zayed Sports City Stadium, which is also set to host several outdoor competitions. Other venues include the Abu Dhabi Sailing & Yacht Club at Yas Marina, Yas Marina Circuit, Yas Links Abu Dhabi, Al Forsan International Sports Resort, Abu Dhabi Corniche, Hamdan Sports Complex and Police Officers’ Club Stadium at Al Jaddaf in Dubai.

Admission will be free across all venues.

Established in 1968 by Dame Eunice Kennedy Shriver, Special Olympics is the world’s largest sports organisation for children and adults with intellectual disabilities that provides year-round training and competitions for five million athletes and Unified Sports partners in 172 countries. Although recognised by the International Olympic Committee, the Special Olympics World Games is not held in the same year or in conjunction with the Olympic Games.