The biggest around
The Special Olympics World Summer Games beginning in Ireland is the largest sporting event in the world this year. Inas Mazhar covers the finishing touches and looks at the Egyptian entry
Over 7,000 athletes with learning disabilities will compete in 18 sports in 23 venues throughout Dublin and Belfast when the Special Olympics World Summer Games starts 20 June. The tournament, already the world's biggest sporting event this year, suddenly got bigger.
A week before the start of the 10-day event, the Games' organising committee confirmed that Iraq, which initially withdrew from the Games because of the war, will now be participating. A team of eight athletes competing in athletics and table tennis will be travelling to Ireland, first to Larne, then to Dublin for their events.
"It is great news that Iraq will after all be able to attend, great news for the athletes and great news for Larne which I know will give them a warm welcome," said Mary Davis, 2003 World Games' chief executive officer. "People with a learning disability overcome great obstacles every day of their lives. These Iraqi athletes have had to overcome that and much more. They are an inspiration to all of us," she added.
Before the war in Iraq began, Special Olympics Iraq athletes were isolated and abandoned by a regime that faced major challenges both within Iraq and from outside the country. However, despite the challenges and severe living conditions, the athletes had been training regularly.
Following the war, the Special Olympics Middle East/North Africa (MENA) office contacted Saad Abd Yassin, the national director of Special Olympics Iraq. Finding Abd Yassin was the first step in the next phase of the search which was trying to find athletes and at least two coaches to represent the war-torn country for World Games participation. Chairman of the World Games' Organising Committee Denis O'Brien offered to provide air transport from Iraq to Ireland.
"Eight brave Iraqi athletes will compete in athletics and table tennis, demonstrating courage and sending a message to the world through the Games that Iraq is undergoing a major change in its perception and acceptance of people with a learning disability," said Ayman Abdel-Wahab, MENA's regional managing director.
The Special Olympics World Games "Flame of Hope" arrived in Ireland in Bangor, Co. Down earlier this week following a nine-day, 15,000-kilometre journey through 15 countries across Europe.
"This is a significant day in the history of the island of Ireland," O'Brien said. "The Special Olympics 'Flame of Hope' symbolises the courage and celebration of diversity that the Special Olympics movement represents."
The torch was then carried by four teams through more than 130 Irish communities before it will be brought to the opening ceremony at Croke Park in Dublin on 21 June.
"Bangor is very privileged to be receiving the 'Flame of Hope' on behalf of the island of Ireland. This is the first time the Games have been held outside the US, so to welcome the torch is a real honour," said Anne Wilson, mayor of North Down. "The whole community has come together with local primary and secondary school children to celebrate its arrival," she added.
The Irish towns set to welcome the world as host to the teams are Buon Giorno, Killarney and Guten Morgen, Kilkenny, Buenos Dias, Kiltimagh and Bonjour and Ballina.
There will be many languages heard in Ireland during the summer of 2003, as 177 cities, towns, villages and even an island will play host. On the Aran Islands, Portuguese will be heard when the Portuguese delegation lands, while Cork City and Blarney will host a Mexican fiesta.
Belfast will be home to the US team and one of the largest South American delegations, Argentina, will stay in Derry. "One of the aims of the Host Town Programme is to promote an understanding in the community of the culture, customs and traditions of the visiting delegations, with particular emphasis on the gifts and talents of people with a learning disability. It's a hugely important part of the Games and I thank everyone who has come forward to host a team," O'Brien added.
Each host town will accommodate and entertain a team and provide sporting facilities allowing them to train before the Games. Criteria used in matching a particular country with a town include the size of the delegation, travel considerations and language. As the Shannon region has a sizeable Russian-speaking population already, it will host a number of teams from Euroasia.
All the teams were scheduled to spend four days in their host town before travelling to the greater Dublin area for the opening ceremony in Croke Park on Saturday.
The Egyptian delegation flew to Ireland last week. The 95-member squad will be hosted by the city of Taum before heading to Dublin for the competitions. The delegation comprises 72 athletes plus 23 officials.
Eleven Egyptian teams will take part in nine sports: two teams in each of football and basketball, handball, athletics, swimming, table tennis, gymnastics, weightlifting and bowling.
Ashraf El-Ogeil, Egypt's Special Olympics sports manager and vice president of the Egyptian delegation, said the Egyptians had been training seriously for the past three months.
President of the Egyptian Special Olympics Magda Moussa said she was proud because the Egyptian delegation was the biggest in the MENA region and one of the biggest in the Games. "The athletes have trained well and are ready. They are very talented and we hope to achieve remarkable results as we've always done in international and regional events," Moussa said, adding that the players keep the Games' oath always at heart: "Let me win. But if I cannot let me be brave in the attempt.
"Thanks to Mrs Suzanne Mubarak, the honorary chairwoman of the Egyptian Special Olympics, the number of athletes in Special Olympics sports is increasing," Moussa said. "Mrs Mubarak is very supportive of the athletes and is always keen to share with them such occasions. Her presence at national and international events makes them even more enthusiastic. She met the delegation before their departure and wished them the best of luck."
Al-Ahram Weekly Online : 19 - 25 June 2003 (Issue No. 643)
Located at: http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2003/643/sp1.htm