'You should be proud'
Back from the Special Olympic Games, Egypt's athletes were received by Mrs Mubarak. Inas Mazhar reports
Honourary President of Special Olympics Egypt Mrs Suzanne Mubarak received the movement's players and administrators on Sunday in wake of the Summer Games that took place in Ireland two weeks ago and where the players collected a very respectable 72 medals.
Mrs Mubarak, who was accompanied by high-ranking government officials, watched with the athletes and their parents a documentary on Egypt's participation in the 10- day championship, including the athletes as they stepped onto the podium to be presented with the medals they had won.
In her address, Mrs Mubarak thanked all those involved in SOE for their participation, time and effort. She said she was proud of the athletes' achievements which reflected their strong desire to reach the top.
Prior to the Games, Mrs Mubarak had met with the players to encourage them and promised to honour them after their return.
"I was confident in your determination. I knew you could do it. You should be proud of yourselves," Mrs Mubarak said.
She said Egypt had taken big strides in caring for children with learning disabilities. However, she added, "We still have many challenges ahead," including increasing the number of schools for learning disabilities and raising the number of workshop programmes like Perfect Friend and Youth and Schools which provide for higher living standards and create better working opportunities.
SOE President Ismail Osman and Vice President Magda Moussa both thanked Mrs Mubarak for her efforts in SOE. "With the support of Mrs Mubarak we are among the top six countries at level one," Osman said, the others being the US, Britain, Holland, Japan and Germany.
Moussa said it was because of Mrs Mubarak that the athletes had succeeded. "It is because of her wisdom, guidance, and above all faith and kindness that we were able to achieve such results. She has always led us to excellence."
