Mansour bin Mohammed inaugurates the Asian Youth Paralympic Games “Dubai 2025”

His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the National Olympic Committee and Chairman of the Dubai Sports Council, inaugurated the Asian Youth Paralympic Games – “Dubai 2025”, the largest of its kind, in which 1,500 athletes from 35 countries participate in 11 sports, distributed over eight world-class stadiums, and will be held from December 10 to 13.

This event comes to strengthen Dubai’s position as a global center of excellence in Paralympic sports, hosting the second of its kind after the resounding success of the 2017 edition.

His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum honored during the opening ceremony of the session; Shakhnuzha Shavkatovna Mirziyoyeva, First Deputy Director of the National Agency for Social Protection under the President of Uzbekistan, First Deputy Chairman of the National Paralympic Committee of Uzbekistan, and daughter of the President of Uzbekistan, in recognition of her contributions to supporting sports for people with disabilities.

She received the award amid praise for her presence and role in developing youth paths in Asia.

The opening ceremony of the tournament was held at the Dubai Club for People of Determination in the presence of Dr. Ahmed Belhoul Al Falasi, Minister of Sports, Hessa Bint Essa Buhumaid, Director General of the Community Development Authority in Dubai, Dato’ Seri Haja Fatima Abdullah, Minister of Women, Child Development and Social Welfare in the Sarawak State Government in Malaysia, Majid Al Osaimi, Chairman of the Asian Paralympic Committee, and Sheikh Mohammed bin Daij Al Khalifa, Member of the International and Asian Paralympic Committee and Chairman of the Bahrain Paralympic Committee.

The ceremony was also attended by Prince Fahd bin Jalawi bin Abdulaziz bin Musaed, Vice President of the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee, Prince Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Nasser Al Saud, President of the Saudi Table Tennis Federation, Khalfan Belhoul, Vice President of the Dubai Sports Council, Faris Al Mutawa, Secretary General of the National Olympic Committee, Saeed Hareb, Secretary General of the Dubai Sports Council, and a number of ambassadors of countries participating in the tournament, heads of local, Arab and Asian sports federations, sports leaders and representatives of international media institutions. And local.

The ceremony witnessed a review of the delegations of participating athletes and carrying the flags of the participating countries, then the promotional film was shown, which focused on the spirit of the tournament and the youthful energy of people of determination.

The course includes sports: athletics, swimming, boccia, powerlifting, table tennis, bow and arrow, goalball, badminton, wheelchair basketball, arm wrestling, and taekwondo. This year, the course is characterized by the pivotal use of artificial intelligence in operations and organization, which adds an innovative dimension to all aspects.

Thani Juma Barqad, Chairman of the Championship Organizing Committee, thanked His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum for his patronage and support, during his speech at the ceremony and praised the young athletes who represent the true future of the Asian Paralympic movement.

He stressed that Dubai has proven over many decades its status as a global center for sports for people of determination, citing the city’s hosting of major world championships since 1998.

He explained that hosting this edition within a short period of time was not a challenge, but rather an incentive that reflects Dubai’s commitment to creating an event that celebrates energy and hope.

He praised the volunteers and supporters and sent motivational messages to the athletes, partners and sponsors.

For his part, Majid Al-Osaimi, President of the Asian Paralympic Committee, expressed in his speech his appreciation for the young athletes and their passion and ability to inspire, noting that the Dubai 2025 Games are the largest in the history of the Asian Youth Paralympic Games with the participation of one thousand five hundred athletes from thirty-five countries in eleven sports.

He stressed that the adoption of artificial intelligence techniques in the organization added an innovative dimension that reflects the vision of the Asian Paralympic Committee, pointing to the first participation of automated robots in the opening ceremony, explaining that it is a step that reflects a bold future trend in the sports sector.

Majid Al Osaimi also thanked the UAE and His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum for the continuous support and the organizing committee and volunteers who completed all stages of the work in just six months.

He praised Dubai’s hosting of the 2017 edition and its new success in organizing the 2025 edition with the highest standards, offering special appreciation to His Excellency Thani Juma Belrakad and his team.

The ceremony included the performance of the Asian Paralympic Committee’s anthem, then the official oath taken by athlete Mohammed Khaled Talib and referee Tariq Al-Ali, to confirm everyone’s commitment to the values ​​of integrity and respect.

The ceremony also included organizing an Emirati heritage segment presented by the artist Aida Al Menhali through an artistic work dedicated to this occasion with the words of the poet Ali Al Khawar, followed by additional artistic performances presented in a way that reflects the spirit of the event.

The evening concluded with a word of thanks and appreciation to the attendees, emphasizing that the athletes’ journey began in Dubai in the spirit of excellence and ambition, and that the current edition constitutes an important platform for creating a brighter future for the young Asian champions.