Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, has been named the official carrier for the Pakistan Special Olympics team participating in various sporting activities during the year.

Etihad Airways also supported the team in last year’s Special Olympics games held in Athens in which the 82-member Pakistani team bagged 17 gold, 25 silver and 14 bronze medals and participated in eight sports including athletics, aquatics, badminton, basketball, cycling, football and table tennis.

Amer Khan, Etihad Airways’ Country Manager inPakistansaid: “At Etihad Airways, we are keen to support initiatives that are designed to elevate an individual’s desire to achieve. After the hugely successful event in 2011, we are delighted to once again support the many talented individuals representing Pakistan in the Special Olympics. I wish them the best of luck and I am sure they will make Pakistan proud.”

Saeed Ahmad, Chairman of the Special Olympics inPakistan, said: “I wish to express my gratitude to Etihad Airways for its continued support of the Pakistan Special Olympics team. The airline has shown its commitment and support to many different sections of Pakistani society through this partnership with us. We hope this collaboration will continue to flourish in the future.”

The Special Olympics program inPakistanwas initiated inKarachiin 1989 by a humanitarian group who brought together children and adults with special needs to provide them with activities and a chance to compete in sport. Today, the Special Olympics Pakistan program encompasses individuals with special needs from all over the country with more than 16,000 participants.