?The seventh Regional Special Olympics SO MENA Games will kick off in Syrian capital Damascus on Saturday with the participation of 2,000 athletes from 23 countries in the Middle East and North Africa to compete on 15 events, officials said Friday.

"The Special Olympics has been described as the benevolent body that gives athletes, children or adults, the chance to acquire experience in sports and experience that helps them integrate in society, become one with the other and plants hope and self-esteem in their good hearts," said Syrian Work and Social Affairs Minister Diala Haj Aref at a press conference prior to the opening of the Games.

"It's our pleasure that Damascus assented on holding such a unique event," said MENA Regional Managing Director Ayman Abdul Wahab who participated in the conference.

The Special Olympics is an international organization dedicated to empowering individuals with intellectual disabilities to become physically fit, productive and respected members of society through sports training and competition. More than three million athletes from 168 countries and regions have taken part in the Games since its establishment in 1968.