The 17th UAE Fitness Championship for People of Determination will kick off this Thursday, under the patronage of the Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, Nahyan bin Mubarak. The championship is organized by the UAE Center for Autism on the sidelines of "World Autism Day," which is observed on April 2nd each year.
More than 500 male and female athletes with determination from 55 centers and schools that integrate people of determination from across the country are participating in the championship. This includes 17 centers for the care and rehabilitation of people of determination (7 government centers and 10 private centers) and 38 inclusive schools (29 public schools and 9 private schools).
The aim of the sports championship for people of determination is to highlight individuals on the autism spectrum, to raise community awareness, to accept and appreciate their individual differences, and to empower them to be active members of society. It also emphasizes the role of social responsibility and the involvement of individuals, institutions, and agencies in the country in supporting them. According to the World Health Organization's latest report in 2024, the prevalence of autism is estimated to be one in every 100 children, appearing in early childhood before the age of three, and it is characterized by deficits in verbal and non-verbal communication, social interaction, and some repetitive behaviors.
