Lebanon will host the Special Olympics Winter Regional Games for the first time between January 30 and February 5, 2016, which will include participants from the Middle East and North Africa countries, the United Nations (UN) said Thursday in a statement.

According to the statement, the UN Information Center in Beirut (UNIC-Beirut) launched a one-year partnership with the Special Olympics Lebanon Union that aims at "promoting awareness on and mobilizing support for people with intellectual disabilities through sports to help integrate them in society and develop their skills".

It added that "the partnership goes hand in hand with UN objectives and messages on sports for peace and development, and will materialize in organizing the Winter Regional Games".

The Games features Alpine skiing, snowshoeing, cross country and floor hockey.

The partnership also includes the organization of other sports activities throughout the year, such as training sessions for youngsters in various kinds of sports, basketball, football, tennis, table tennis and swimming competitions.

The Special Olympics is a global movement that uses sports to integrate people with intellectual disabilities into their communities and provides them with continuing opportunities to realize their potential, develop physical fitness, demonstrate Special Olympics courage.