UAE, NZ athletes visit Sheikh Zayed mosque to mourn terror victims

Abu Dhabi - More than 100 mourners processed quietly into the mosque, then formed a circle and held hands in its vast courtyard before sunset.

In a moving show of solidarity and tolerance, Special Olympics athletes from the UAE and New Zealand gathered and held hands at the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque on Saturday. Officials from the Special Olympics joined the athletes as they put up a united front in the wake of the deadly shootings on Friday at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, that claimed 50 lives.
Special Olympics World Games organisers also decided to hold a moment of silence before each event at the competition on Saturday in a broad display of compassion.
More than 100 mourners processed quietly into the mosque, then formed a circle and held hands in its vast courtyard before sunset. Before a long moment of silence, Special Olympics Chairman Timothy Shriver said: "As we try to overcome our own brokenness from the chaos in the world, we must remember that hate cannot defeat hate, only love can do that. I am so comforted being here among the forces of healing, the forces of understanding, the forces of compassion and the forces of tolerance. The world needs to know these forces are more powerful than anything."
Special Olympics New Zealand has a delegation of 64 athletes and coaches in the UAE for the world games. After they learned of the deadly attacks, the grieving New Zealand delegation sought to comfort one another and to show solidarity with Muslims worldwide.
Referencing the tragedy in his home country, Special Olympics New Zealand basketball athlete Carlton Vivian, who is from Christchurch, said: "These people didn't deserve this, nobody deserves this."
Matthew Hawkins, New Zealand's Ambassador to the UAE, tweeted images from the meeting. "On Saturday evening I was welcomed at Sheikh Zayed mosque for a moment of reflection," he tweeted. "A very moving experience I was able to join. Thank you @TimShriver for your leadership and kind words for our athletes and New Zealand at this difficult time."
The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque embodies the Islamic message of peace, tolerance and diversity. Among those to take a tour of the mosque already this year are Pope Francis, the Head of the Catholic Church, and the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Dr. Ahmed el-Tayeb. During their visit to the UAE, Pope Francis and the Grand Imam signed the historic Human Fraternity document that calls for peace between nations, religions and races.
The UAE is observing 2019 as the Year of Tolerance. Coincidentally, it is hosting the 50th anniversary of the Special Olympics, a movement that prides itself on erasing the lines of division and fear of difference through the power of sport.
reporters@khaleejtimes.com

• UAE
• Abu Dhabi