Tanzania concludes Global Week of Inclusion in style

DAR ES SALAAM: TANZANIA has successfully concluded Special Olympics Global Week of Inclusion (GWI) in a fascinating fashion after hosting series of Inclusive Sporting activities in different parts of the country.

The last chapter of GWI was officially closed on Saturday, July 25, 2026 at Azam Complex in Dar es Salaam where a competitive inclusive football match between Unified team against Azam FC Under-17 side was played.

Despite Azam FC emerging 2-1 winners, the outcome was just ‘sugar in a cake’ as people were more interested with the inclusive part of the match bearing in mind that each player on the pitch respected one another.

It was another testimony that intellectual disabled persons enjoy being integrated in sporting activities as they seemingly enjoyed every moment of the game.

Even off the pitch, the atmosphere was engaging, everyone plastered smiling faces a sign that inclusion is more powerful than anything else.

Speaking after the match, Ismail Rashid who was key player for the Unified team said he was extremely happy to be part of the game as he likes to play football a lot.

“I play as a midfielder and to me, I like to engage in sports activities especially football because it helps me to be in good health and make new friends.

“Let me take this opportunity to encourage other intellectual disabled persons not to stay behind but rather, go out and take part in different sporting events available in our communities,” Rashid, who is an intellectual disabled person said.

His captain Daniel Khamis also cherished the good moment they had during the match wishing to have such events on regular basis.

“Personally, I truly like to socialize…being together with my friends is what I value a lot and to be here playing football is something that has made my day…I have enjoyed very much,” he said.

However, their unified partner Emmanuel Mwaikenda for Azam FC underscored the importance of inclusion insisting that the community should always engage intellectual disabled people in various activities ranging from social to economic.

“When they are included, they are always happy and as you saw during the match, they were playing good football with fair play hence there is no need to leave them aside.

“It is just unfortunate that they have suffered defeat in today’s match but they were much better…and most of them have potential to become great footballers only if given enough room to shine,” he said.

On his part, Special Olympics Tanzania (SOT) National Director Charles Rays appreciated parents, guardians, coaches and athletes for making this year’s GWI very successful.

“It was good to see that parents were attending these inclusive sporting events and allowing their children to take part in the unified activities…this is a big mileage to me and to the Special Olympics as a whole.

“If parents and guardians did not embrace GWI with both hands, then we could not have been able to appreciate the success that has been left behind.

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“I am sure that next year, GWI will stamp more success to surpass what has been achieved this year,” Rays said.

Moreover, he urged people to always give intellectual disabled persons an opportunity to socialize and treat them with equality and dignity since they are capable to contribute positively to the society.

Meanwhile, aside of celebrating GWI, Special Olympics uses the month of July to honor Eunice Kennedy Shriver who founded the organization with the inaugural International Games on July 20, 1968 in Chicago, USA.