Libyan swimming champion Riham Ali Ben Jalil, a prominent athlete in the field of Down Syndrome sports, has been selected to carry the torch at the opening of the Special Olympics World Games. This prestigious event is set to take place in Berlin, the capital of Germany, from June 17th to June 25th. Ben Jalil will join over 7,000 athletes representing 190 countries in this global event.
The organising committee of the 15th Special Olympics World Games unveiled the design of the ‘Hope Torch’ in a celebratory event in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin last May. The presentation of the torch, which will carry the Hope Flame to Berlin on June 17th, is a significant milestone in the run-up to the Special Olympics World Games. The torch symbolizes strength and hope.
Riham Ali Ben Jalil, born in Benghazi, is a member of the “Friends of the Mentally Disabled” association. She managed to secure fourth place in a 25-meter freestyle swimming event, with a time of 51 seconds at the 8th Regional Games for the Middle East and North Africa. Despite periods of interrupted training, she participated in these games under the name of the Jordanian Special Olympics due to her residency in the Kingdom of Jordan during this period.
The Special Olympics World Games is an international sporting event for participants with intellectual disabilities, organised by the IOC-recognised Special Olympics organisation. The Games aims to showcase the skills and accomplishments of people with intellectual disabilities on a global stage. The World Games feature more than a week of competitions involving thousands of athletes.
This year, the Special Olympics World Games will be held from the 17th to 25th of June 2023 in Berlin – the first time that Germany will host the games. There will be roughly 7,000 competitors from approximately 170 nations, including athletes and partners, competing in 24 sports, together with 3,000 coaches and 20,000 volunteers. The 24 different sports will be held across 15 different venues in Berlin.
