a rare speciality

8/3/2019 A Rare Speciality

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22011 issue 6

a RaReSpecialtytheReS no Stopping abdullah

a Special olympicS athlete

by

Cassey

oliveira

lke every other oy, aduh mut a mrr o oved pyng port.

but h potent gret pyer often went unnoted.

it w ony fter jonng shfh centre tht th true

portn ught the ttenton of h teher.

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a

bdullah is a champion in athletics, speed skating or

cycling. Mental disabilities may have hampered his

learning process, but as a performer, theres no stopping

this special athlete. His spirit unmatched!

oN-field iNsPiraTioN

Intellectual disability led to Abdullas uncontained hyperactivity, a

matter of major concern. Though with sports, it has now subdued.

Theres an overall change in his personality too.

I was always angry and unhappy. I used to never get proper sleep.

There were just no activities to be involved with, complained Abdullah.

Sports has brought me happiness; it has made me stronger. I like it

when Im training for Special Olympics. I practice a lot, so once I reach

home, I get a sound sleep too! says a now satised Abdullah.

As a Qatar Special Olympics (QSO) athlete, Abdullah is often

required to travel abroad for international tournaments, but his parents

dont tag along. The QSO committee insists on athletes travelling alone

it makes them independent. Abdullah too claims to have becomepretty independent in his daily life routines. For practice, I prepare my

own bag, keep all my equipment ready he says proudly.

Initially, his parents were skeptical about him travelling alone. They

would keep ringing up the Committee to keep a tab on Abdullah. All that

has gradually stopped now; they now call up just to say a casual hi.

They do become sad when I have to go away for any international

matches. When I return, they give me a tight hug and cry with happi-

ness. But they are no longer scared to send me alone, he says.

raPid 5

l Favourite sports: Skatingl Fitness regime: I cycle four times dailyl Loves to do: Watch football matchesl Favourite sportsperson: Felipe Jorge Loureiro

(Brazilian football player)l A thank-you to: My grandfather, he supports me a lot.

a CoaChs Take

Having spent considerable time with special needs people, coachAli has deciphered one special trait of theirs. He says, Thesepeople are pure from the heart. Unlike us, there is nothing

hidden inside. When they cheer for you, its whole-hearted.Abdullah is one of the top players in cycling and ice-skating.

Even the world was amazed that an athlete from Qatar, wherethere are no winters, no ice, can win medals in ice-skating, hesays. Since the QSO doesnt have provisions for ice-skating,Abdullah practices on the ice-rink at City Centre.

This Summer Games 2011, we have sent Abdullas name forcycling. The conrmations are due in February, and the coachhas his ngers crossed.

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his aChieveMeNTs

Abdullahs exemplary performance has inspired the parents of children

with similar disabilities. They are now motivated to let their children

participate in sports. One must play sports. It keeps you in good health and

makes you strong, just like me! he smiles.

off-field CharMer

Abdullah has an entertaining personality. Hes funny, likes to laugh, dance

and make friends. Its hard to forget him once you have interacted with him,

says his coach Ali Hudaib, who has had nine years of experience in coaching

at QSO. He says, From parents to players to volunteers, everybody keeps

asking How is Abdullah? He has the ability to communicate with anyone,

irrespective of the language they speak.

Its his eyes and smile that does the trick, claims Ali. And that is true; one

simply cant resist reciprocating his mischievously sweet smile!

Abdullah too remembers all those whom he has met and often misses

them. He has a picture of a girl named Akajua from Japan. She was a volun-

teer during the winter games in 2005. She was very helpful and gave me

everything I wanted. I keep in touch with her through emails, he says. Athome, his father calls him a trouble-maker. But being the eldest son amongst

his siblings, he is aware of his responsibilities. I love my siblings just as my

father loves me. If they do wrong, I tell them God is watching over you.

While at Shafallah, he is fondly loved by his classmates. He likes his school,

especially the library. I like books. I also like learning about business. I would

like to be a rich man someday! he says. And as Abdullah continues to cast a

lasting impression on all his acquaintances, for his father hes still the same,

a little naughty boy!

Tournament Game Position

International SpecialOlympics Games 2005

Ice skating 25m 55m

FirstFirst

Regional Special OlympicsMENA Games 2006

Long jump100 m race

FirstEighth

Regional Special OlympicsMENA Games 2008

Cycling 5km 10km

ThirdThird

International SpecialOlympics Games 2009

Ice-skating 111m 222m 333m

SecondThird

Second

how do The aThleTes TraiN?

The technical committee at QSO assigns a special team of

coaches for every category of disabilities. Based on the

category, they set training program such as:l Physical disabilities: Athletics and power-lifting

l Mental retardation: Athletics, power-lifting, table ten-nis, speed skating, bowling, swimming and football

l Visual impairments: Goalball and athleticsl Hearing loss: Football, bowling, and athletics

doNaTioN CaMPaiGN

For the International Summer Games that will be held

in Athens, Greece in June 2011, the participating P&G

brands have launched a donation campaign from Janu-

ary 25. With every purchase of any of these brands (e.g.Ariel, Tide, Fairy, Downy, Pampers, Always, Pantene,

H&S, Pert, Herbal Essences, Crest, Oral B, Olay, Camay,

Wella, Gillette) 1QR will be donated to Special Olympics-

MENA.

(File image)

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a rare speciality

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