Several first ladies in the Middle East were presented awards by Special Olympics International for their involvement in the organisation. Abeer Anwar reports Awards, presented by Special Olympics International (SOI), an organisation dedicated to disabled athletes, have been presented to first ladies and other members of heads of state in the Middle East/North Africa region. The awards were presented by Ayman Abdel- Wahab, managing director of SOI in the region. Abdel-Wahab visited Rafiq Al-Hariri, prime minister of Lebanon, and Nazek Al-Hariri at their home in Beirut, Lebanon where he presented Mrs Al-Hariri with the SOI award in appreciation of her outstanding contributions to the welfare and development of people with intellectual disabilities in the region. Attending the meeting was Special Olympics Lebanon Vice Chairman Latifa Al-Laquis, National Director Hala Al-Husseini and Head of the Families Committee Mohamed Abdouni. Receiving her award, Mrs Al-Hariri expressed her gratitude for the recognition and reassured Abdel-Wahab and Special Olympics Lebanon of her support and willingness to be an active member of the Special Olympics family. Mrs Al-Hariri is in fact active in several international charity organisations, including being First Ambassador of the International Osteoporosis Foundation, an international non- governmental organisation. She is also the founder of the Nazek Al-Hariri Centre for the Development of Human Abilities which offers its services and care to the disabled population in the region. Her tireless efforts make her extremely well-connected around the world on all levels and in all fields. Her network ranges from business and corporate contacts to social and charity activities. Abdel-Wahab's visit to Lebanon was the most recent of a series of visits to members of royal families and heads of state across the Middle East/North Africa region. His tour began in May 2004 in Libya where he met Mohamed Al- Gaddafi, chairman of the Libyan Olympic Committee and honorary chairman of Special Olympics Libya. In a meeting attended by Special Olympics Libya board members, Abdel-Wahab presented the SOI award to Gaddafi as a token of appreciation for his role in improving the lives of people with intellectual disabilities, including Special Olympics athletes in Libya. Following Libya, Abdel-Wahab met Mrs Asmaa Al-Assad, wife of Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad and honorary chairperson of Special Olympics Syria. Mrs Al-Assad provided a significant boost to Special Olympics Syria and is the driving force behind the programme's ongoing development. Abdel-Wahab presented Al- Assad with the SOI award in the presence of Special Olympics Syria board members. The visit preceded Special Olympics Syria's Third Festival at Teshreen Sports Village in which Special Olympics athletes from Syria, Saudi Arabia and Lebanon participated. Mrs Andre Emile Lahoud, First Lady of Lebanon and honorary chairperson of Special Olympics Lebanon, received her SOI award at the presidential palace in Baabda in Beirut. Mrs Lahoud was a strong proponent of Special Olympics Lebanon hosting the third Special Olympics Middle East/North Africa Regional Games, held in Beirut in September 2002. Abdel-Wahab's last stop was in Amman, Jordan, where he met with Queen Rania Al- Abdallah. The meeting was attended by Prince Raad Bin Zeid, chairman of Special Olympics Jordan. During the meeting, Abdel-Wahab requested from Queen Rania that she be honorary chairperson of Special Olympics Jordan. Queen Rania was presented her award for her efforts in the humanitarian field, including supporting people with intellectual disabilities.
