This week Special Olympics Egypt began preparations for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region football qualifications in Egypt from 14-20 February at the new Aviation Defence sports complex in the Fifth Settlement on the outskirts of Cairo. Abeer Anwar reports. Saudi Arabia has already booked the first of two tickets which are the SO MENA region's share in the first ever World Cup to be held in Malaysia at the end of 2014 after Brazil withdrew. Saudi Arabia qualified from the Gulf qualifications held in May last year in the United Arab Emirates, becoming the first representative of MENA. Awaiting now is the second winner. “In order to give the biggest chance to everyone to participate, we held a two-day competition where 200 mentally handicapped football players representing all Egyptian governorates participated and from which the Egyptian national team will be formed,” explained Amal Mobada, Special Olympics Egypt national director. Minister of Sports Taher Abu Zeid told the players to do their utmost to win a place in the World Cup. “I wish I could participate in such a match with the mentally disabled and be a member on their team but I am not allowed to wear their official t-shirt. But I will be right behind them cheering them on.” The qualifications will be played for a cup named after Magda Moussa, the woman who introduced Special Olympics in Egypt. The date of the qualifications, 14 February, marks the anniversary of Moussa's death. Meanwhile, Special Olympics Egypt returned victorious with 15 medals -- three gold, seven silver and five bronze in the regional bowling and floor tennis championship held in Oman which witnessed the participation of 12 countries from the MENA region. Abu Zeid agreed to honour the Special Olympics athletes in Oman awarding a LE3,000 bonus to the gold medal winner, LE2,000 to the silver and LE1,000 to the bronze. Said Abu Zeid: “I really appreciate what they have achieved. I think they are the ones the deserve the real honour more than anyone else.”
