Egyptian has been given the opportunity of a lifetime -- to run with the Olympic Torch. The reason: El-Sayed's involvement in the London 2012 international sports legacy programme, International Inspiration. El-Sayed, from Alexandria, is among a group of 20 young people involved in International Inspiration who will take part in the Olympic Torch Relay in Nottingham in the UK on 28 June. There will be one torchbearer coming from each of the 20 countries which are part of International Inspiration, from Azerbaijan to Zambia. Each International Inspiration torchbearer was selected either for their dedication and commitment to inspiring children and young people in their communities through the power of sport or for the personal challenges they have overcome in their lives. El-Sayed was nominated by the Egyptian Paralympics Committee because he demonstrated enthusiasm when becoming a role model for disabled young people everywhere. International Inspiration is bringing to life the promise made by the London 2012 bid team where they pledged to reach young people all around the world and connect them to the inspirational power of the Games so that they are inspired to choose sport. The programme is delivered around the world by a unique partnership of organisations including the British Council, UNICEF UK and UK Sport. International Inspiration is enriching the lives of more than 12 million children in 20 countries around the world through high-quality and inclusive physical education, sport and play. "This is an opportunity to act as an ambassador for my country at a tumultuous time in Egyptian history and to find out more about Paralympics athletes who, like me, compete with prosthetic limbs," El-Sayed said. "I am thrilled that young people from around the world will also get the chance to run with the Olympic Flame," chair of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) Sebastian Coe said. "Mohamed has been a real inspiration in his community and truly demonstrates how sport can change someone's life. Mohamed's story is truly inspirational." The International Inspiration programme is governed by an independent charitable foundation. International Inspiration is supported and funded by a mixture of organisations and foundations, including the Department for International Development (DFID), the British Council, the Premier League, UNICEF, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, Comic Relief, the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation, the GE Foundation, the Youth Sport Trust, the British Olympic Association and the British Paralympics Association as well as individual donors. To enable longer-term impact, the programme is developed jointly with governments, National Olympic Committees and National Paralympics Committees, and participating countries. The programme is supported and welcomed by the International Olympic Committee and International Paralympics Committee. The vision of International Inspiration is to use the power of sport to enrich the lives of millions of children and young people of all abilities in schools and communities across the world, particularly developing countries, by offering them the opportunity to access and participate in high-quality and inclusive sport, physical education and play. The programme is already changing the lives of young people in Azerbaijan, Brazil, Bangladesh, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Jordan, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mozambique, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palau, South Africa, Tanzania, Turkey, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda and Zambia. International Inspiration was developed as a result of the commitment made by the London Bid team in Singapore in 2005 to 'reach young people all around the world and connect them to the inspirational power of the Games so they are inspired to choose sport'. The school partnerships are managed by the British Council, which has long experience of linking schools internationally, working in partnership with the Youth Sport Trust, which utilises its expertise in developing teachers and young leaders through sport.
