SYRIA: Disabled athletes from Syria and Iraq participate in Syrian Special games

Record ID: 279164

  • Title: SYRIA: Disabled athletes from Syria and Iraq participate in Syrian Special games
  • Date: 1st June 2009
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) ABDUL SATTAR, ATHLETE, SAYING "I wish to become a world champion." VARIOUS OF ATHLETES DURING SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIP ASSAD TALKING TO WINNER VARIOUS OF SWIMMING
  • Embargoed: 16th June 2009 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVAEKWHO8BHSVYSHX6O606XB8CRX
  • Story Text: Syria hosts a local version of the paralympics with disabled athletes from Syria and neighbouring Iraq participating at the games.
    The Syrian Special Olympics, organised by the Syrian Special Olympics Assembly, kicked off in Damascus under the patronage of Syrian First Lady Asma al-Assad on Thursday (May 28) with the participation of some 325 mentally-disabled athletes from Syria and Iraq.
    "Let me play. Let me win. And if I couldn't, give me the courage to try" is the slogan of the tournament that includes sports such as football, basketball, ping pong, bowling, tennis, equitation and swimming.
    About 150 trainers and 200 volunteers work together during the two-day championship in order to make the athletes participate in it despite the difficulties that they may face in training the disabled players.
    "Their thinking is different than ours because they are moody; this means that sometimes they may respond while in other times they may not. Also we are dealing with innocent people. They are not spiteful like other people". said trainer, Adnan Ahmad.
    Mohammed Abu Asfour, a trainer, said: "There are people who take care of them now. Who take care of their talents because normal people are already able to take care of themselves. Now disabled people have their own roles in the community just like normal ones. They became able to play and be happy," he said.
    During the Middle East Special Olympics, held in Abu Dhabi, Syrian disabled athletes earned 79 gold medals, 31 silver and 14 bronze.
    The assembly's officials as well as the volunteers encouraged disabled athletes to dream of the future and to raise their hopes in order to be more active in the community considering them an important part of Syrian society.
    "I wish to became a world champion," said Abdul Sattar, an athlete.
    On the side of the championship, a conference that join able-bodied people with the disabled athletes is held, in order to deliver a message that disability does not stand in the way of those who have a stronger willing for a better life.
    In the Beijing Paralympics last year, Syria took away a bronze medal in a women's weightlifting category and Iraq took a silver and bronze in the men's version of the event. The best performing Arab countries at the games were from North Africa, with Tunisia coming 15th in the overall medal's tally and landing nine gold medals along the way.
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