On 29 August the London Paralympic Games gets underway, reports Abeer Anwar Immediately following the Olympic Games will start the London Paralympic Games. Egypt's physically disabled athletes are getting ready for what will be their first participation in an official tournament since the outbreak of the 25 January Revolution last year. In the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games, Egyptian athletes collected four gold, four silver and four bronze medals, placing them 29th among 143 countries, although the delegation participated in only four sports. The Egyptian Paralympic Committee is headed by Hossameddin Mustafa, who served for over 30 years as the Egyptian Paralympic Committee general secretary. Mustafa was recently chosen for the job by the head of the Supreme Council for Sports Emad El-Banan. Mustafa, who is also the chairman of the international federation for sitting volleyball, and El-Banan were both appointed to their respective posts in the wake of last year's revolution which toppled the ruling regime. Mustafa sent a letter of congratulations to Mohamed Morsi, the newly elected president of Egypt, reminding him of the urgent needs of the physically disabled . Egypt's handicapped in the London Paralympics will again participate in only four sports: sitting volleyball, table tennis, powerlifting and athletics. Egyptian powerlifters are world record holders. All athletes are currently training in a closed camp in the Olympic Village in Maadi. Mustafa has sent for a number of well-equipped wheelchairs for the volleyball team. In preparation for the London Paralympics, the table tennis team played in the France International Championship and won three gold medals, one silver and one bronze. Meanwhile, this week the Egyptian football team for the dumb travelled to Turkey to participate in the World Games for the first time in the history of the Egyptian Paralympic Committee.
