IN THE COUNTDOWN to the start of the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London, the British Council in Egypt organised a Mini Olympic Games tournament in cooperation with the Egyptian Olympic Committee. The events were held at Heliopolis Sports Club in Al-Shorouq with a total of 250 students from 15 schools in Cairo competing in volleyball, basketball, table tennis and swimming. In table tennis, Saint Fatima School came in first place, October Language School was in second place followed by Nefertari Language School in third place. In swimming, Egyptian Language School was first, Egypt British International School second and Port Said Language School third. Modern Education School won gold in volleyball while Nefertari Language School took second place, and Egypt British International School third. In men's basketball, the Egypt British International School snatched the gold, while Nefertari Language School followed in second place, and Port Said Language School third. In women's basketball, the Modern Education School took first place while Nefertari Language School came in second followed by the International School of Elite. Mark Stephens, country director in the British Council in Egypt expressed his happiness with the success of the One day Mini-Olympics, inspired by the London 2012 Olympic and Para Olympics "which is the source of inspiration for thousands of people around the world," adding that he was very glad with the council's support to Egyptian students through organising such events, "and to encourage youth to consider sport as a positive force for their life." Stephens added that the British Council aims to promote the integration and interaction between schools and students and to build team spirit among young people as well as supporting the standards of sustainable relations as the most important value of sport.
