KUWAIT: The Council of Special Olympics players’ families held its first meeting at Tomooh Sports Club premises and elected Sadrega Al-Ansari as Chairwoman of the Council and Ali Dashti Deputy Chairman. Meanwhile, Essa Dashti, Nour Mohammado Mariam Al-Kandari, Zainab Al-Muaili, Tagwa Al-Najjar, Sumaya Al-Matrouk and Fahad Al-Enezi were elected as members.

Al-Ansari thanked the council for its confidence in her, and said she will exert all efforts to achieve the council’s goals to strengthen the families’ role and its effective participation in supporting the players and provide them suitable environment to enable them continue making achievements, as the family represents a true motivation power in the lives of Special Olympics players and its role in presenting the most ideal level of care of players in all aspects of their lives and during competition.

She said the council discussed several issues including increasing awareness of Special Olympics activities, encourage families to join the program and exchange ideas that contribute to increasing sport and social activities that are inclusive of players.

Al-Ansari said sports was and will remain the main approach to cause a deep-rooted change in our special needs children’s life, and that their practice of various sports contribute to including them with the society, and their acceptance by others”.

She said their participation in various competitions plays a major role in changing their lifestyle and supports their abilities to build bridges with others.

She said the council discussed several views and proposals related to societal and educational inclusion, in addition to the programs of training for daily skills and players’ personal protection, increase opportunities to make friendships, strengthen positive behaviors, develop the leadership chances and voluntary work, that in addition to benefitting from social media networks by focusing on players and their families.

Al-Ansari thanked the Kuwait Special Olympic and Special Olympics MENA for their support, and she also thanked the players’ families.

Sadrega Al-Ansari is also the deputy chairwoman of the first regional Council of Players families in the Special Olympics MENA region.