On Nov. 14, NYU Abu Dhabi hosted an announcement ceremony for the use of NYUAD facilities in the 2018 Special Olympics Middle East North Africa 9th Regional Games and in the 2019 Special Olympics World Summer Games. NYUAD will be the track and field and powerlifting venue for the 2019 Special Olympics and the track and field, powerlifting and swimming venue for the 2018 MENA Special Olympics. NYUAD will also provide housing for some delegations of athletes and coaches.

The announcement ceremony featured remarks by Peter Wheeler, CEO of the Special Olympics, NYUAD Vice Chancellor Al Bloom, Olympic champion Allyson Felix and two NYUAD students: Nikolaj Nielsen, Class of 2018, and Sara Pan Algarra, Class of 2020. Felix, who has won five Olympic gold medals and is tied as the most decorated female track and field Olympian ever, is an ambassador for the Special Olympics and said she is “especially proud to play a role in advocating for the Special Olympics movement.” She expressed thanks to NYUAD for “the invaluable role it will play in the months ahead.” Following the conclusion of the ceremony, Felix led a sprinting clinic in the gym for local schoolchildren and also had a private lunch with female intercollegiate athletes from NYUAD.

Abu Dhabi will be the first city to host both the MENA Special Olympics and Special Olympics World Games in consecutive years. The Special Olympics is currently expecting more than 7,000 participants representing 170 countries, but both numbers are rising. The Special Olympics are predicted to attract 500,000 spectators and will require 20,000 volunteers over the duration of the event from March 14 to 21, 2019. NYUAD students will be able to volunteer as part of that group.

As a result of the competition, there will be a much larger number of people on campus. Spring break this academic year is from March 14 to 19, 2018, and while the calendar for the next academic year is yet to be released, it is likely that at least some of the Special Olympics will overlap with spring break. This means that there may be a smaller pool of NYUAD community members available to serve as volunteers, but it also means that the overcrowding of campus may not be as drastic as it would be if the Special Olympics took place during a normal class week.