Dubai is ready to host the Asian Youth Para Games

The Organising Committee of the 2017 Asian Youth Para Games held a press conference on 2nd October stating that Dubai is ready for the event in December and that hosting the Games demonstrates the commitment of the United Arab Emirates to the Paralympic movement.

Chairman of the Organising Committee and newly elected IPC Governing Board member, Mr Mohammed AlHameli outlined that c.800 athletes under 20 years of age from 42 countries across Asia are expected to attend. They will compete in ten sports with athletics and swimming seeing the highest number of competitors. Most of the events will take place at the Dubai Club for the Disabled which is well known in the region and whose facilities are used to host major para-sport competitions.

He stated: "Dubai is ready to welcome these young athletes from all over Asia and to provide them with the right environment to compete and test themselves against their peers. We are grateful for support of the UAE Government which sends a strong signal about how our country seeks to be a leading nation in driving the Paralympic movement forward."

President of the Asian Paralympic Committee, Majid Rashed commented: "At the APC, our vision is to make Asia a leading Paralympic nation. To do this, we need to make sure that Asia’s young para-athletes have competition structures in place to help them develop into the Paralympians in the future. This event is a crucial part of our strategic plan. I’m delighted that Dubai is proving to be such an ideal host with the UAE Government and the Dubai Club for the Disabled providing such strong support."

The Games which will take place from 10th – 14th December, are under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council of the Dubai Government and Dubai Sports Council,. The organising committee is a collaboration of the Asian Paralympic Committee and the Dubai Club for the Disabled.

The 10 sports are; Athletics, Swimming, Boccia, Goalball, Archery, Chess, Badminton, 10-pin bowling, Powerlifting and Table Tennis.

As part of the event, the Proud Paralympian programme will be run. Funded by the Agitos Foundation’s 2017 Grant Support programme and led by established para-athletes, it aims to educate the competitors and thereby create more ambassadors for the Paralympic movement.

-ENDS-

About APC:

The Asian Paralympic Committee (APC) is based in the United Arab Emirates and aims to set itself as the Paralympic Power of Asia. With a vision to make Asia one of the leading regions of the Paralympic movement in enabling athletes with a disability to achieve sporting excellence and inspire and excite the world. the APC forms an integral part of society through the Paralympic movement. The APC promotes sports for all persons with disabilities within Asia from grassroots to elite level, without discrimination for political, religious, economic, disability, gender or racial reasons. In addition, the APC aims to promote the Paralympic values in Asia, which include courage, determination, inspiration and equality.

For further information, please contact APC Media and Communication department through e-mail: media@asianparalympic.org or call +447737701098. Alternatively, please visit www.asianparalympic.org.

Jane Jones

Asian Paralympic Committee

Media Manager

+44 7737 701098

Skype: janejones119

Twitter: @asianparalympic

Facebook: @AsianPCofficial

www.asianparalympic.org

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