DHL getting set for the Special Olympics Flame of Hope to the UAE

The Flame of Hope will arrive in the UAE as part of its global torch run to the opening ceremony of the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games taking place in Idaho, USA in February 2009. As the Official Transporter of the Flame of Hope for the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games, DHL will take the torch from Athens, Greece to ten international cities and countries across six continents to the opening ceremony in Boise, Idaho, USA.

Janet Jweihan, DHL Express Country Manager, UAE, comments:

"It gives DHL great pleasure to be a part of this historic moment, bringing the Flame of Hope to the UAE for the first time. DHL will leverage its award winning network of hubs and gateways to safely transport the Flame of Hope from city to city, continent to continent using its extensive fleet of cargo planes and vehicles to ceremony locations across the globe"; which was announced previously at a press conference with the Games Organizing Committee (GOC) in Abu Dhabi."

In 2007 DHL entered a three year partnership with Special Olympics International (SOI), Janet Jweihan adds:

"Through DHL logistics' capability and global network, 2007 marked the first time ever the Torch was able to make a journey around the world. From the lighting ceremony in Athens, Greece, DHL transported the "Flame of Hope" across five continents before finally delivering the Torch to the Opening Ceremony of the Special Olympics World Summer Games, in Shanghai, China."

The 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games will take place from 7-13 February 2009 in Boise, Idaho and is expected to attract up to 3,000 athletes from more than 85 nations to compete in seven Olympic-type sports: alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, figure skating, floor hockey, snowboarding, snowshoe racing and speed skating.
Special Olympics International is dedicated to empowering individuals with intellectual disabilities to become physically fit, productive and respected members of society through sports training and competition. The "Flame of Hope" gives hope and inspiration to the millions of intellectually disabled athletes around the world, and at the same time shares in one of DHL's key values of respecting diversity.

The Special Olympics Law Enforcement Torch Run is an international series of torch relays leading up to state, provincial or national Special Olympics Games. Completed by local law enforcement officers who raise money for the run, Special Olympics Law Enforcement Torch Run® is Special Olympics' largest grass-roots fundraiser and public awareness campaign raising more than $30m for Special Olympics programs around the world in 2007.

DHL is the Global Supporter of Special Olympics International, Official Transporter of the Flame of Hope for the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games and the Official Sponsor of the Law Enforcement Torch Final Leg for the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games.