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Al-Ahram Weekly 20 - 26 July 2000 Issue No. 491 
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Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Al-Ahram Weekly 20 - 26 July 2000 Issue No. 491
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Egypt Region International Economy Opinion Culture Features Travel Living Sports Profile People Time Out Chronicles Cartoons Letters Sealed on papyrus
IN THE first accord of its kind, Germany and Egypt have agreed to join forces to help disabled athletes. The deal, unique in European-Middle East relations within the Special Olympics International, sees the exchange of athletes, coaches and administrators by the two countries. Both sides are to organise joint championships for intellectually disabled athletes and are to help increase awareness among the general public of the problems handicapped athletes face. The deal, cemented in Berlin last week, also envisages Egypt and Germany raising funds and seeking sponsors to help in rehabilitation efforts.
Putting pen to papyrus, literally, was Peter Kapustin, head of the Special Olympics-Germany (SOG) and Ismail Osman, head of Special Olympics-Egypt (SOE). The signing ceremony was attended by Magda Moussa, president of SOE, Ayman Abdel-Wahab, SOE manager and Mahmoud Mabrouk, Egypt's ambassador to Germany. Included in Germany's delegation was Nives Ebert, SOG's national director and Carl Heinz, SOG treasurer.
The Germans praised the efforts of Mrs Suzanne Mubarak for her help in making Egypt the leading country in the Middle East and North Africa in assisting handicapped sportsmen and women and turning them into productive members of society.
The agreement has already produced results. Egypt's five-a-side football team, silver medal winners in the 1999 US International Championship, has been invited to take part in Germany's Special Olympics Championship to be held in Berlin from 5-9 September . The tournament will help prepare the Egyptians for the Arab Championship, to be held in Morocco in October.
"I am extremely happy that Egypt is the leading country in this field," Osman said after the agreement was reached. "It's a great success for Special-Olympics Egypt," Osman said, adding that the accord will give a substantial push to intellectually disabled athletes in both countries and will prepare an experienced cadre of coaches who will be qualified to train disabled athletes and help them in reaching world class levels.
