Photo courtesy of the Belarusian Special Olympics Committee
MINSK, 9 February (BelTA) - The Belarusian Special Olympics delegation received official participant medals at the Open Masters Games in Abu Dhabi. They were presented during a team reception at the Belarusian Embassy in the UAE, BelTA has learned.
For the entire team, the meeting with Belarusian diplomats was a true celebration. The warm support from their compatriots is palpable, providing an energy boost ahead of the competitions at the Zayed Sports City Arena in the UAE capital, Larisa Tabolina, the head of the delegation, said. She also mentioned that besides the official reception, the Belarusian diplomats prepared an interesting cultural program. The guests visited Abu Dhabi’s most vibrant and iconic locations before heading to the shores of the Persian Gulf to relax. The athletes and coaches said the day felt like a fairytale – they experienced the city’s unique architecture and history, and the sunny seaside proved an ideal place for a mental recharge after intense training and competitions. Such support from their compatriots allowed the team to feel at home, despite being thousands of kilometers away. The Belarusian diplomats wished the athletes luck, emphasizing that their participation in the Games is not just about sport, but a mission showcasing Belarus’ strength and inclusivity to the world.
The Games spotlight inspiring human stories, with athletes aged 30 to 90 competing in the UAE capital. At the Open Masters Games in Abu Dhabi, Belarusians will contend for medals in athletics events, including various distance races, high jump, long jump, hammer throw, and shot put. The Belarusian delegation includes students from the Glusk Children’s Social Boarding Home Vesnovo. This is a social service institution for children with disabilities and young adults with special psychophysical development needs. Brothers Oleg and Aleksandr Medovsky, Anna Pestova, Alesya Poznyak, and Grigory Dyuvbakov will take to the sporting arenas. Their coach, Aleksandr Petrov, has been actively promoting the ideals of Special Olympics for over 30 years. Despite life’s challenges, these individuals remain open, disciplined, and incredibly positive - a shining example of how hard work and a coach’s support can turn dreams into world-class medals. Belarusians are competing at these events thanks to the long-term cooperation between the Presidential Sports Club and the Belarusian Special Olympics Committee.
The Open Masters Games Abu Dhabi 2026 is the largest multi-sport event of its kind. It involves over 25,000 athletes from more than 120 countries, who will compete for medals in 33 sports. Among these are football, basketball, volleyball, rugby, athletics, swimming, cycling, tennis, badminton, judo, karate, Muay Thai, sailing regattas, and canoe races.
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