The UAE Special Olympics women’s unified volleyball team won the gold medal and the World Cup after defeating Ukraine 2-0 in the final today.

The tournament was held in the city of Katowice, Poland, from October 5 to 8, featuring 16 teams from various Special Olympics programs worldwide. The UAE team played in Group C alongside Italy, Namibia, and India.

The UAE team won their first match against Italy 2-0, then secured a second win against Namibia by the same score, before losing the third match to India 1-2. They qualified for the final stage by defeating Kenya 2-0.

Talal Al Hashmi, the National Director of UAE Special Olympics, confirmed that the players showed outstanding performance in the tournament. This achievement reflects the successful investment in athletes with determination and confirms that the UAE’s women’s empowerment journey has flourished across all sports and humanitarian levels.

He added that what was achieved in Poland is the fruit of the wise leadership’s support and deep belief in the abilities of people of determination, especially as the UAE has become a regional and global role model.

The UAE Special Olympics team included players from Fatima bint Mubarak Women’s Sports Academy, Abu Dhabi Police General Headquarters, Ajman Club for People of Determination, Dubai Club for People of Determination, and Al Wasl Sports Club.