The Kuwait delegation for intellectual disabilities, representing the Kuwait Special Olympics, will participate in the 12th World Winter Games of the Special Olympics 2025, hosted by the Italian city of Turin from March 8 to 15. This follows several training camps aimed at preparing the delegation to achieve national athletic success.

Hana Al-Zawawi, Chairperson of the Kuwait Special Olympics Board of Directors, confirmed to the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) today, Sunday, that the morale of the athletes participating in the World Games is very high, serving as a key motivator to achieve advanced positions that will add to the country's athletic accomplishments. Al-Zawawi noted that despite the limited facilities for winter sports training within the country, the delegation has made significant efforts to achieve the best results under the supervision of the technical and administrative staff of the Special Olympics.

She highlighted the delegation's determination to secure advanced positions in the World Games, overcoming obstacles such as cold weather and their lack of familiarity with snow. She expressed hope for a new achievement that would be credited to Kuwaiti sports, particularly for athletes with intellectual disabilities. The delegation consists of three athletes, their guardians, the head of the delegation, and a doctor participating in the *Healthy Athletes* program, which is part of the Special Olympics and provides health screenings for all athletes.

In a similar statement to KUNA, the head of the participating delegation, Khaled Al-Nasser, said that the Kuwaiti athletes will face strong competition, especially since participants from other countries are accustomed to cold weather and winter sports. He explained that the technical staff of the Kuwait Special Olympics has made significant efforts to prepare the Kuwaiti athletes to achieve a new athletic milestone for the country. Al-Nasser noted that training camps were held in Egypt and the UAE, adding that the Kuwait Special Olympics provided sufficient time for the athletes to acquire the necessary skills for the upcoming competition.

The Kuwaiti delegation includes Mariam Dhiyab in ice skating, Hajar Al-Rashidi, and Abdullah Al-Ali in snowshoeing. Al-Nasser expressed hope for achieving advanced positions, following the success of Kuwaiti Special Olympics athletes who won 21 medals at the Special Olympics World Summer Games (Berlin 2023).

For her part, Dr. Bibi Al-Amiri, a consultant in child and adolescent psychiatry and a member of the delegation, expressed her pride in participating in the Kuwaiti delegation at the World Games, especially as she represents the country and a cherished segment of its citizens. She emphasized that the participation of individuals with intellectual disabilities from the Kuwait Special Olympics is an achievement that reflects determination and the ability to overcome various challenges.

Dr. Al-Amiri added that her role in the health program, titled *Strong Minds* and focused on the mental health of athletes, includes creating a suitable environment for them, especially since they are not accustomed to snow and extreme cold. She also mentioned the importance of assessing the impact of being away from home and facing diverse challenges, stressing the necessity of this program given the increased psychological pressures from competitions.

She explained that the Special Olympics health program covers various areas, including vision and hearing screenings, physical therapy, dental care, and mental health, which aims to ensure the psychological well-being of participating athletes. Dr. Al-Amiri emphasized the importance of providing daily psychological support to the athletes to help the Kuwaiti delegation achieve advanced positions at the World Games.

The 12th Special Olympics World Winter Games 2025 in Turin, Italy, is the largest sporting event for individuals with intellectual disabilities, featuring over 1,500 athletes from 102 countries competing in eight winter sports, including alpine skiing, snowboarding, futsal, snowshoeing, and others.