From Athens to Abu Dhabi: The Special Olympics World Games Flame of Hope Flies With Etihad Airways

Etihad Airways has been unveiled as the official airline partner of the 2019 Special Olympic World Summer Games, which will commence in Abu Dhabi, UAE this year.

Thousands of athletes, coaches and supporters will be flying with Etihad from around the world to participate in the international event.

Etihad Airways, the official airline partner, has delivered the World Games Flame of Hope to the UAE capital.

The flame was carried in a specially designed cradle on a Boeing 787-9 aircraft sporting the airline’s new Special Olympics livery, which proudly displays the images of four UAE Special Olympics athletes along its fuselage.

The flight was flown by Captain Fouad Almarzouqi from the UAE, and Captain Spiridon Nakos from Greece.

The airline is all set to deliver world-class hospitality and ground programme for Summer Games. This partnership aims at promoting the core values of tolerance, diversity and youth engagement

The world event at the Abu Dhabi event will see the participation of 7,000 athletes and 3,000 coaches representing more than 170 countries.

Abu Dhabi will be the first city in the Middle East to host the global event that will bring together more than 7,000 athletes from 170 nations, making the Special Olympics World Summer Games the largest sporting and humanitarian event of 2019.

Special Olympics World Games Abu Dhabi 2019 are scheduled to take place from 14 to 21 March 2019. The Games are set to open at the Zayed Sports City Stadium in Abu Dhabi on March 14.