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Fun with the first family
Al-Ahram Weekly Published in Al-Ahram Weekly on 12 - 08 - 2010

AS SYRIA readies to host the Special Olympics Middle East and North Africa Regional Games taking place from 24 September to 3 October, Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad and his wife Asmaa paid a surprise visit to Syria's intellectually disabled athletes at their training camp, joining them in basketball, volleyball and badminton.
"I need you to do your best in the upcoming Games and we will be there watching you, supporting you and cheering you on all the way," President Al-Assad told the athletes.
For the first time, Syria is hosting around 750 athletes and delegations attending the Games. A number of conferences will be held on the sidelines of the tournament which will welcome 23 countries in addition to Iran. The athletes will compete in 15 sports.
"The visit of Mr and Mrs Al-Assad to Special Olympics athletes shows how much they care for intellectually disabled athletes and sets an example for others all around the world to follow. It also sends a message to the world of how important the athletes are to all of us," Ayman Abdel-Wahab, SO MENA regional manager, said.

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