Up and coming sprinter Amr Ibrahim set a new Egyptian record in Beijing, reports Ghada Abdel-Kader For the first time in Egyptian history, a track and field team comprised of four sprinters qualified for the Olympics. In Beijing, the brightest of the lot was Amr Ibrahim, 22, who reached the quarter-finals in the men's 200 metres. In the process Ibrahim set a new Egyptian record of 20.55 seconds, to come in sixth place. "Before going to the Olympics Ibrahim was ranked 47 in the world. After the Olympics, he became 17th in the world, a great achievement," said Seifallah Shahin, vice- president of the Egyptian Athletic Federation (EAF). In qualifying rounds, discus thrower Omar El-Ghazali, 23, came in 15th place with a throw of 60.25 metres. Shotputter Yasser Fathi, 24, finished in 19th place with a throw of 18.42 metres, and Mohsen Anani, 23, came in 15th place in the hammer throw. Ibrahim's coach Medhat Abdel-Nabi told Al-Ahram Weekly, "Ibrahim set a new Arab record. He is the fastest Arab in the 100m and 200m." Ibrahim added, "From the beginning of the season it was obvious that winning a medal was far too difficult." So it was for everybody else. "Anani and Fathi are still young. They recently advanced from the junior team. It was impossible for them to win any medals. All what was required of them was to qualify for the Olympics," added Shahin. Abdel-Nabi added, "Preparing an athlete for an Olympics takes four to eight years. Ibrahim joined the Olympic champion project (a national plan aimed at producing a new generation of high-level athletes) on 1 December 2007. He was the only Arab participant in the 2007 World University Games where he won the gold medal." "In Beijing, more than 200,000 people watched athletics. The most expensive ticket was for track and field. This shows the importance of the sport." Shahin said "El-Ghazali was our hope to win a medal. Unfortunately, he was injured in his right shoulder two days before the Games." El-Ghazali, the world junior discus champion, had just recovered from a leg injury. Shahin said EAF's plans for the Olympics in London 2012 depend on "how much the National Sports Council will support us. This will be made clearer after an investigation committee ends its work." Shahin acknowledged athletics was not popular in Egypt. "Most people don't even know what athletics means. The way I see it, the Arabic translation is not very accurate. A better translation could be a speed and power sport." Shahin added, "There is no great interest in practicing track and field which is found only in the big clubs like Ahli, Zamalek, Gezira, Shams, Alexandria and Ismaili. But it doesn't bring much money. Also, there is no junior base. "There should be a revolution in this sport starting with equipment, playgrounds, gyms and sportswear. All should be at the same international level," Abdel-Nabi said "Athletics always begins in schools, at the primary, preparatory and secondary levels. It provides a number of opportunities for school children to learn and develop a passion for athletics in a fun and safe environment. Athletics coaches should combine basic fundamentals with fun and games and activities. "Running and jumping are the principles of physical education in schools but where are the schools doing this?" Nagi Asaad, who represented Egypt in international events in the 1970s and early 1980s in the shot-put and discus, remains the only Egyptian to win gold medals in three major championships -- the 1973 All-Africa Games, the Mediterranean Games of 1979 and the African Athletics Championships of the same year. Though the EAF was founded way back in 1910 and Egypt was the first Arab and African champion in throwing sports, at the international level, Egypt has never won an Olympics athletics medal. Nevertheless, Shahin defends the sport, empasising that it's for everyone. "Athletics is not just a man's game. There are many women track and field athletes and many are envied for their beauty."
