The Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee celebrated the International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2024 in a special ceremony held at the Olympic Training Center in Prince Faisal bin Fahd Olympic Complex in Riyadh, attended by Abdulaziz Baashen, the committee's CEO and Secretary General.

Awareness activities and dialogue sessions
The event featured a series of activities aimed at raising awareness of the importance of sport for people with disabilities. These included a women's Paralympic sports symposium and several dialogue sessions, most notably:

  • "Persons with Disabilities and Sport," presented by Modhi Al-Qarni, representing the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee.
  • "Legislation Related to Disability," presented by Hashem Al-Ghalib, representing the Authority for the Care of Persons with Disabilities.
  • "Sport for Women with Disabilities: The Psychological Impact," presented by Modhi Al-Sumait of the National Center for Mental Health Promotion.
  • A session titled "Women with Disabilities Practicing Sport: The Challenges," featuring Paralympic athletes Nada Al-Humaidani and Ghalia Al-Anzi.

Honoring Paralympic athletes
The ceremony honored a number of standout Paralympic athletes, including Mariam Al-Muraisel, Ghalia Al-Anzi and Sarah Al-Jumaan, in recognition of their achievements across various sports.

Interactive activities and awareness pavilions
A range of sports activities for children and families were also held, giving everyone the chance to take part. Several sports federations participated with informational and interactive pavilions, including:

  • The Saudi Sitting Volleyball and Wheelchair Sports Federation
  • The Saudi Visual Impairment Sports Federation
  • The Saudi Boccia Federation
  • The Saudi Table Tennis Federation
  • The Saudi Camel Racing Federation

The event reflects the joint cooperation between sports institutions to boost sports participation for people with disabilities and highlight the vital role of sport in improving their quality of life.