SYRIA: President Assad visits training camp for young Special athletes

Record ID: 279251

  • Title: SYRIA: President Assad visits training camp for young Special athletes
  • Date: 8th September 2010
  • Summary: VARIOUS OF ASSAD TALKING TO A SPECIAL NEED FEMALE ATHLETE VARIOUS OF SPECIAL NEEDS ATHLETE DRAWING ON POTTERY
  • Embargoed: 23rd September 2010 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA5E30FCZX5D6MJQSFVVH631CK9
  • Story Text: Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his wife Asma visited hundreds of young athletes preparing for a special games tournament to help remove the deep stigma that often surrounds people with special needs in the region.
    Local and international media were invited to cover the high profile visit late on Sunday (September 5) in a region where many disabled people and people with specials needs are marginalised by society.
    Assad and the first lady mixed with hundreds of young children hoping to compete at the games due to start on Sept. 25.
    The games, in their seventh edition, will this year be held in Syria following the 2008 games in Abu Dhabi, and will be open to athletes from the Middle East and North Africa.
    Competitors with special needs from 23 countries will participate in 15 events, including athletics, basketball, volleyball, gymnastics, soccer, aquatics, cycling, weight lifting and table tennis.
    Asma al-Assad has been involved in efforts to improve the situation of Syria's disabled people and people with special needs, and officials have recently vowed to improve access to public buildings for those who are wheelchair-bound.
    The world edition of the Special Olympics is due to take place in Greece in the summer of 2011.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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