Twenty-six athletes in different disciplines have been selected to represent Rwanda at the 2019 Special Olympic World Games to be hosted in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates on March 14-21.

Of the twenty-six, four will compete in athletics, 2 will feature in Bocce sports, five in swimming and while the majority (15) will compete in football.

According to Special Olympic Rwanda, the 26-athlete contingent will be accompanied by fourteen officials including coaches and medical staff.

"In total, the whole delegation will be 40 people. Preparations for our athletes are going on well and we look forward to great performances in UAE,” said Sheila Ndegeya, the National Director of Special Olympics Rwanda.

The Special Olympics World Games are a multi-sport event for athletes with intellectual disabilities in the tradition of the Special Olympics movement.

Over 7,000 athletes from over 170 countries will be competing in a range of sports, with the main focus being to empower people with intellectual disabilities through the tool of sport.

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