Kuwait: Jasour – News Desk
Amidst the crowded stands in the ice rink at Pragelato in Turin, Italy, Mariam’s confident smile stands out as she participates in the 12th Special Olympics World Winter Games (Turin 2025).
With determination that defies the region’s snow and mobility challenges, Kuwaiti athlete Mariam, who has Down syndrome, embarks on her first athletic experience in the cross-country skiing competition after undergoing intensive training in camps held in Dubai and Cairo before the winter games. The event sees fierce competition among 1,500 athletes representing 100 participating countries.
Mariam has a history of previous athletic achievements, including her participation in the Summer Games in Berlin in 2023, where she served as the official spokesperson for the Middle East and North Africa for the International Special Olympics.
During that period, Mariam Diab consistently promoted a spirit of competition and encouraged participants from the Kuwaiti Special Olympics, resulting in 21 medals being added to the country’s sports record.
Currently, Mariam holds the position of Health Ambassador for the Middle East and North Africa for the Special Olympics and is a member of the Ambition Club for Intellectual Disabilities. She possesses administrative skills alongside her multiple athletic talents, achieving notable accomplishments in athletics, equestrianism, swimming, and taekwondo.
With high spirits and a strong sportsmanship, Kuwaiti athlete Mariam Diab spoke about the start of her athletic journey and her future ambitions, especially during her current participation in (Turin 2025). She said, “I began my athletic journey in schools affiliated with the General Authority for Persons with Disabilities until I joined the ‘Ambition’ Club in 2018.”
She added that 2018 marked her first international sports participation, specifically in the Jeddah Marathon with 700 competitors, where she won second place. She also participated in the World Championships for Down Syndrome in the Czech Republic in athletics (100m run), shot put, and 100m walk.
Mariam highlighted the importance of these sports participations in increasing her determination and ambition to achieve accomplishments and victories.
She spoke about her role as the official spokesperson for the Middle East and North Africa for the International Special Olympics for five years, saying, “I gained experience in encouraging my colleagues to persevere and achieve unprecedented sports records.”
Mariam also mentioned her long experience attending workshops, events, and meetings to follow up on all aspects related to individuals with intellectual disabilities, including health, physical, psychological, and sports aspects.
Mariam did not hide the importance of the support she received from her family, officials at the Kuwaiti Special Olympics, the Ambition Sports Club, and official bodies, which enabled her to achieve advanced positions and hold various local and international positions.
From this standpoint, she called for the importance of spreading the culture of integrating individuals with intellectual disabilities into society, empowering them, and providing ways for them to achieve accomplishments.
Regarding achievements, Mariam confirmed her and her colleagues, Hajar Al-Rashidi and Abdullah Al-Ali, who are currently participating in the World Winter Games (Turin 2025), strive to add a new chapter to the history of intellectual disability sports.
She emphasized their determination to overcome challenges in the tournament, including the cold weather and high competition with international athletes, pointing out that it is an unprecedented experience for the Kuwaiti delegation.
Mariam concluded her statement with two messages: the first to parents, saying, “Support your children and encourage them to achieve their dreams and reach advanced positions in various fields.” Her second message was addressed to her fellow athletes and talented individuals, encouraging them to persevere, be determined, and have self-confidence, adopting the saying, “Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt” as their motto in their sports lives.
With these messages, Mariam demonstrated that true disability is nothing but the barriers of despair, laziness, and defeat that a person places before themselves, and that each individual’s ability to achieve accomplishments lies in their inner belief and self-motivation.
