Jamaica’s police sergeant Gladstone Sealy is to leave the island today for United Arab Emirates where he will be among law enforcement officers and athletes taking the Special Olympics Flame of Hope throughout that western Asian country.

The symbolic Flame of Hope is scheduled to tour all seven emirates from March 4-13, bringing the message of hope, inclusion and courage.

It will then be carried into Zayed Sports City Stadium in Abu Dhabi for the opening ceremony of the 2019 World Summer Games on March 14.

“I’m very pleased to have been selected a torchbearer for the Special Olympics Games. I’ll also do a presentation on the second leg of the tour as it relates to law enforcement activities and how we assist Special Olympics worldwide. Seven presentations will be done and I was selected to do one of them,” said Sealy, who has been a part of Jamaica’s Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) for five years.

“I have been enjoying the volunteer work over the years, assisting people with intellectual disabilities. It gives me a sense of belonging and a real caring attitude toward fellow human beings.

“We have been doing our part in raising funds for Special Olympics Jamaica through the 5k run each year. It’s just a continuation of what we officers are doing to help to understand and to bring awareness to the special needs people throughout the country,” he added.

Lorna Bell, the executive director of Special Olympics Jamaica (SOJ), beamed at the responsibility handed to Sealy.

“Having one of Jamaica’s LETR officers as one of those carrying the SO Flame of Hope is another proud moment for me as executive director. I’m so happy for Gladstone Sealy, our dedicated volunteer from the Jamaica Constabulary Force,” she said.

SOJ is set to send a 98-member delegation — inclusive of 73 athletes, 22 coaches, two officials and one medical representative — to the Abu Dhabi Games. They are set to depart next week for the UAE where they will be based in the city of Al Ain for the Host Town programme until the official start of the Games.

The closing ceremony will be staged on March 21.

Special Olympics is an international movement that provides year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports, for children and adults with intellectual disabilities.

The intellectual disabilities can either be acquired or genetic, and can include cases of cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, autism, and traumatic brain injury.

— Sanjay Myers