JEDDAH: Some 219 children and adults with disabilities and special needs from 13 different local centers participated in the launch of the one-week “Fire Bolt Games” here Saturday to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Help Center. The Fire Bolt Games aim to foster greater awareness and appreciation within the community of the talents of people with disabilities. The sports week is also a platform to encourage sports amongst people with disabilities because sports has many physical, mental, spiritual and social benefits. Maha Jaffali, director and member of the Help Center's Board of Trustees, said, adding that the week is all about young athletes, and giving them the opportunity to shine and show their capabilities and talents. The Fire Bolt Games also provide an arena for people with special needs to interact socially and maximize their potential. According to Jaffali, the games kicked off Saturday in a festive procession at the Help Center, with representatives from the Help Center, its alumni recreational club (Dirat Ajdady) and the Badgesh Center, leaving with their torches and enthusiastically cheered by their peers. These athletes made their way across the main streets of Jeddah on their “Fire Bolt” branded truck, to pick up the other representative athletes from the 13 Centers participating in this week's sporting competitions. They were accompanied by the Jeddah Civil Defense, Jeddah Traffic Force and a number of other supporters, including professional Saudi athletes. The athletes paid a visit to Prince Misha'l Bin Majed Bin Abdul Aziz, Governor of Jeddah. The opening ceremony took place in the presence of Saudi sports officials, heads of the participating schools and centers, the young athletes' parents, siblings and friends and representatives from the local media. The ceremony featured an elaborate fireworks show and the lighting of a symbolic torch. During the rest of the week, the athletes will compete in the final round of competitions to determine the winners in basketball, football, swimming, track and field, Bocce and table tennis. On March 29, trophies will be given to the winning football and basketball teams (boys and girls). The last day of the week will be an open sports day with more awards handed out. For weeks prior to the Fire Bolt Games, the Help Center has been organizing and hosting qualification matches for the participating athletes. Over the past years, the Help Center has also piloted competitions with other specialized centers in Jeddah, and has sought to encourage their young athletes to compete in local, regional and international games. The Help Center can be visited online at http://www.helpcenter.med.sa.
