athletes returned after their dominant victory at the Special Olympics. 
The members of Yemen’s Special Olympics floor hockey team were received and welcomed at Sana’a airport last Thursday by a large crowd after they won the gold medal in the Special Olympics floor hockey event. The heroes were received by a number of officials and businessmen, including the Minister of Social Affairs and Insurance Amat al-Razaq Hummad, the chairman of Yemeni Special Olympics Faris al-Sanabani, and the Chairman of the General Investment Authority Salah al-Attar. This high-profile group was joined by a number of officials and businessmen,  as well as by journalists representing regional and local media. Despite their 7 a.m arrival, the VIP guests’ hall was full of officials, businessmen and media representatives to receive the champions.  Following a public ceremony to receive the athletes, a parade of more than 50 cars drove along the streets of Sana’a, where the heroes were welcomed home by citizens who clapped and applauded. The parade continued from Sana’a airport in the north to Fun City in the south of the capital.  The Chairman of Yemen’s Special Olympics floor hockey team, Faris al- Sanabani said these heroes have raised the heads of Yemenis high, and they may bring both public and official attention to the issues of people with special needs. “We are so proud of them - they achieved what other teams could not in the long history of sports in Yemen”, said Mr. al-Sanabani.  Yemen’s Special Olympics floor hockey team have become world champions for the first time in the country’s history, after their crushing defeat of the Swedish team 5-1, in the finals in the US. The head of the Yemeni Olympic Mission, Dr. Eman Hashim Enqad said, “our heroes fulfilled their promise when they said” “we will win and honor Yemen.”  Yemen’s Special Olympics team won second place in the world hockey championships in Japan in 2005. Now, their even more significant victory in the USA will be added to their resume.