Run alongside Special Olympics Athletes at the official World Games 2019 Half Marathon

UAE, 10 March 2019: Members of the UAE’s running community can show their support for inclusion by joining Special Olympics athletes on 16 March when they take to the track for the Special Olympics World Games Abu Dhabi 2019 Half Marathon competition. 

‘Run Unified’ will see people from across the UAE given the opportunity to run alongside Special Olympics athletes who are participating in Special Olympics World Games Abu Dhabi 2019.  

Organized by Abu Dhabi Sports Council, ‘Run Unified’ will take place on Al Hudayriat Island and features 11km, 6km and 2.5km distances as well as the World Games Half Marathon route. For the Special Olympics athletes participating, the Half Marathon event is their official World Games competition.

‘Run Unified’ is part of a series of community initiatives, including the popular Walk Unified and Cycle Unified events, which have been developed by the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) of Special Olympics World Games Abu Dhabi 2019. 

The initiative aims to bring together people with and without intellectual disabilities and encourage them to participate in sports activities alongside each other in celebration of inclusion. 

The half-marathon starts at 6.30am, while the 11km event kicks off at 7am. The 6km and 2.5km categories will begin at 7.30am, respectively. 

Special Olympics World Games Abu Dhabi 2019 will take place from 14-21 March and will see more than 7,500 athletes from over 190 nations compete. The athletes will compete in 24 Olympic-style sports in nine venues across Abu Dhabi and Dubai. The World Games will be the largest sports and humanitarian event of the year.

What: Run Unified
When: 16 March, from 6.30am 
Location: Al Hudayriat island, Abu Dhabi