JEDDAH: The Disabled Children Association, now known as the King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Center, organized a sports day and other events attended by 100 disabled boys and girls between four and 12 years of age.
The children took part in a number of activities and competitions also attended by their parents.
“This event is organized twice a year and aims to increase the endurance and creativity of these disabled children. Our goal is to prepare these kids to be competitive when they leave the center,” said Nazmiya Hassan, a member of the center’s physical therapy team and a member of the committee that organized the event.
Saudi footballer Malek Muaz of Al-Ahli club also attended the event to show his solidarity with the children.
“We are always with them whenever they need us,” said Muaz, who often participates in events for disabled children, orphans and victims of domestic violence.
The sports day, held on Wednesday, was followed by an art and painting competition on Thursday where children as young as four took part.
The children expressed themselves very well through their paintings.
Princess Latifa bint Thunayyan, head of the women’s committee that is organizing an auction event called Color Your Life, which is scheduled to take place in early 2009, expressed her satisfaction with the children’s performance.
“They can now express themselves emotionally after losing the ability to express physically,” she said.
The event aims to merge disabled children with normal children. A number of artists also attended the event to show solidarity with the children and to encourage them.
