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Al-Ahram Weekly 5 - 11 August 1999 Issue No. 441 
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Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Al-Ahram Weekly 5 - 11 August 1999 Issue No. 441
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Egypt Region International Economy Opinion Culture Profile Focus Interview Features Travel Living Sports Time Out Chronicles People Cartoons Letters To Sydney via Jordan
The Pan Arab Games are not qualifying games for the upcoming Olympics to be held in Sydney, Australia. However, the performance of Egyptian teams in the competition. to take place from 11 to 31 August in Jordan, will make up the minds of the National Olympic Committee (NOC) as regards who will be sent to the All Africa Games nine days later in Johannesburg, South Africa. It is this latter competition that will qualify teams once and for all for the Olympics.A delegation of 606 persons will be representing Egypt at the 9th Pan Arab Games, alternatively called the Al-Hussein Games, in honour of the late Jordanian King. The delegation will be comprised of 410 athletes, 40 managers, 54 coaches, 52 referees, 27 assistants and 23 officials. The Egyptian players are expected to claim first place overall and win 216 different medals, 62 gold, 55 silver, 42 bronze and 57 others.
Major General Mounir Sabet, head of the NOC, explained that no restrictions had been placed on teams participating in the Pan Arab Games. "We haven't set conditions or threatened to impose any penalties on the national teams that may fail us in the Arab Games. Also, we have not stipulated that federations win certain medals or positions in any games as a prerequisite for their upcoming participation. There was no reason to do so because all these national federations are fully aware that they have to perform their best if they want to book a place in Sydney," Sabet said.
The NOC head was quick to point out, however, that "this does not mean that we will not impose penalties on lazy athletes and turn a blind eye to poor unexpected results. We have informed the national federations in no uncertain terms that they must guarantee Egypt first place at the Pan Arab Games -- as they have done over the years. It has been made clear that these Games are the best chance available in order to prepare for the most important competition of all -- the Africa Games. We have also made it clear that athletes will be nominated to the Africa Games according to their results in the Pan Arab Games."
Jordan is expected to be Egypt's main competitor during the upcoming competition. "They will be playing in their homeland and will be supported by their fans. Competition is also expected from countries who have greatly improved in recent years," Sabet said.
Sabet emphasised that the NOC has drawn the attention of the national federations to the necessity of preventing athletes from taking any medication or drugs before consulting the team doctor. This is to avoid the possibility of losing medals after dope tests. It is noteworthy that Egypt lost two gold medals, one in judo and the other in volleyball, during the 1997 Pan Arab Games in Lebanon as a result of positive readings after dope tests.
One of the problems facing Egypt in the Arab Games is Jordan's decision to allow only one swimmer per country to participate in each race. "Egypt is the leading country in both men and women's swimming. If Jordan insisted on its decision, Egypt will lose medals -- an expected minimum of 28 medals that could at some point be of great importance to the overall total." Sabet explained that the swimming federation promised to win 81 different medals if two swimmers took part in each race, and only 53 medals in the event that only one swimmer was allowed to participate in each race. Furthermore, he disclosed that the NOC is having negotiations with both Jordan and the Arab Sports Federation regarding this issue.
As far as team events are concerned, Egypt will compete in handball, volleyball and basketball with their premier teams. The Egyptian Football Association (EFA) took the decision to abstain from participation since the national team is taking part in the Confederations Cup being held in Mexico. According to EFA, the national team will be too exhausted from the Mexican trip to take part in the Pan Arab Games. "We can't represent Egypt with any other team. The result could ultimately embarrass us, especially as many Arab countries have improved their games and are strong rivals. We cannot risk ruining the reputation of Egyptian football," explained EFA chairman Samir Zaher.
The last time Egypt participated in the Arab Games was during the seventh round held in Syria in 1992. At the time home teams came back with the gold medal overall only to withdraw in 1997 due to preparations for the All Africa Games, which Egypt won as well.
The first group of athletes will leave Cairo for Jordan on 8 August.
