Sheikha Al Qasimi, the Representative of Self-advocates in "Inclusion International"
On Wednesday, February 27, 2019, the world witnessed a historic event held on Mount Olympia, specifically in the courtyard of the Temple of Zion in the Greek capital of Athens, where the "Special Olympic Flame" lighting-ceremony took place in Abu Dhabi, which is hosting the Olympic Games from 8 to 22 March 2019.
After the ceremony, Sheikha Al Qasimi, the Representative of Self-advocates in "Inclusion International" received the flame from His Excellency Khalfan Al Mazrouei, Director General of the Olympic Games in Abu Dhabi in a big celebration that was attended by huge crowd. Then, she went to United Arab Emirates Embassy, where she lit another symbolic flame. This flame would remain blazing until the end of the Olympic Games.
Then, the Olympic torch relay started. It lasted 10 days from March 4 to 13. The Torch ended up in Abu Dhabi after going through few stages. First, Sheikha Al Qasimi, the Representative of Self-advocates, delivered the Torch to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces on Sunday, 10 March 2019. Second, the country celebrated the passing of the Torch in the seven emirates.
The Representative of Self-advocates in “Inclusion International", who is also the star of United Arab Emirates team for athletes with disabilities, said that she is very excited to participate in the Olympic Games and carrying the torch in the opening ceremony. She described her feelings ahead of the Olympic Games with great excitement. She is going to referee the Judo competition. One of her favorite sports is Karate. She has been practicing it for 11 years as well as the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, which she has been practicing for four years.
“My greatest goal from practicing these activities is to tell the entire world about the rights of persons with disabilities, their conditions, and the proper way that people should see those as human beings not as impaired persons”, added Sheikha Al Qasimi.
Inclusion International for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) has declared the Emirati self-advocate Sheikha Al Qasimi as a representative for self-advocates in the region in the late of May 2018, in Birmingham meeting of the General Assembly, which SCHS administration attended as well as the rest of the meetings.
The self-advocate Sheikha Al Qasimi was born in United Arab Emirates. She acquired General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) from the General Education Schools. She has a black belt in Karate. She participated in several competitions for talents in Writing, Swimming, and Sports.