Host Town workshops held in preparation for Special Olympics World Games Abu Dhabi 2019

Ministry of Community Development, Hessa bint Essa Buhumaid, attended the workshop. Chris Whiteoak / The National

A workshop has been held to help facilitate the UAE's Host Town Programme in the run up to the Special Olympics World Games being held in Abu Dhabi in 2019.

The Host Town Programme seeks to encourage the inclusion of disabled people into everyday society.

The workshops looked at the logistics of transport and hotel accommodation services for the participating delegations, and the mechanism for attracting volunteers. Attendees discussed the preparations needed to host delegations during the four days of the programme.

The workshop was attended by Hessa bint Essa Buhumaid, Minister of Community Development and chair of the heritage and community committee of the supreme committee for hosting the Games, who lauded the efforts of the team.

The program is seen as an international platform for people to exchange information about their cultures.

“The overall framework is clear and is focused on delivering a strategy and vision for the most unified Games in the history of Special Olympics.

"Public-private partnerships are vital and we must educate the community about what the Special Olympics is all about.

"The Host Town Workshop is an invaluable tool that we have used to highlight a common goal for everyone involved and to emphasize the importance of community participation,” said Khalfan Al Mazrouei, managing director of the Special Olympics World Games Abu Dhabi 2019.