**The inaugural Regional Equestrian Competition for the Special Olympics Middle East/North Africa region officially opened in Al Ain, UAE, on Monday. Organized by the UAE Special Olympics, the event features athletes from Kuwait and 10 other Arab countries and will continue until next Thursday.**

Following the official opening ceremony, the Head of the Kuwaiti delegation, Ms. Sadeeqa Al-Ansari, who is also the Secretary-General of the Kuwaiti Al-Tumooh Club, told the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) that Kuwait's participation in the championship "confirms its keenness to integrate athletes with intellectual disabilities into various regional and international forums and to highlight their abilities in the equestrian sport, which requires high concentration, discipline, and special skills in horse taming."

Al-Ansari added that the championship—whose competitions begin tomorrow—is an opportunity to enhance interaction among athletes from the region's countries and exchange expertise among coaches and administrators. She praised the efforts of the UAE Special Olympics in organizing the competition and providing all facilities for the participating delegations.

She explained that the Kuwaiti delegation includes the riders: Basma Al-Basili, Mariam Dhiyab, and Abdullah Al-Ali, under the supervision of coaches Sarah Bouhamdi and Mohammed Al-Kandari. She noted that the horses for the players were selected today in preparation for the start of the competitions tomorrow.

She pointed out that Kuwait's participation in such sporting events "is an extension of the state's interest and care for people of determination with intellectual disabilities and its keenness to enable them to achieve accomplishments, highlight their skills, and their determination to raise the name of the country high in regional and international forums, in line with its humanitarian message and its pioneering role in supporting the sport for those with intellectual disabilities."

The championship's competitions, which begin tomorrow, include events in (English riding, show jumping, trail and control, and dressage) to highlight individual and group equestrian skills, with the participation of athletes of various ages and levels.

Through this event, the Special Olympics aims to spread the culture of inclusive sports, enhance the players' self-confidence, and also highlight equestrian sports as a tool for psychological and physical rehabilitation.

The competition is held under the patronage of the Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism and the Abu Dhabi Police General Headquarters as the hosting partner, with the UAE Equestrian and Racing Federation as a supporting partner. Its competitions are hosted at the Abu Dhabi Police Stables - Special Patrols Department in the Al Ain region.