ABU DHABI: The Paralympic movement in the UAE is growing impressively, especially in sports like shooting and athletics, says Susannah Rodgers, a British Paralympic champion and Technical Adviser on Disability Inclusion with the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

Rodgers is in the UAE for the World Congress on Rehabilitation (WCR) 2024, being held from 23rd to 25th September at ADNEC Abu Dhabi, marking the first time the event is hosted in the Middle East. She hopes for further progress in the UAE’s Paralympic team and encourages continued collaboration between the UAE and UK to boost sports competitiveness.

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Rodgers expressed her excitement about the WCR in Abu Dhabi, highlighting the event’s significance in addressing rehabilitation and the rights of people of determination. She is particularly interested in assistive technology, employment, and education for people with disabilities.

During her visit, she met with the Zayed Higher Organisation for People of Determination (ZHO) in Abu Dhabi and the Al Noor Training Centre in Dubai, where she participated in knowledge exchange on disability inclusion.

Rodgers, born without part of her left leg and forearm, competed in the Paralympics in London 2012 and Rio 2016, winning 30 international medals. She shared her personal journey of discovering her voice through sports and highlighted the power of the Paralympic movement to showcase abilities and raise awareness.

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Though she started professional swimming later than most, she became passionate about it, competing for 15 years and achieving her dream of winning gold. Now retired, Rodgers continues to enjoy open-water swimming and reflects on how her childhood in Cairo shaped her love for international work and other cultures.