In the 17-25 June occasion, the world’s largest inclusive sporting event for differently-abled athletes, the Egyptians claimed 17 gold, 13 silver and 19 bronze medals.
The breakdown of Egypt’s overall medal haul: three gold medals in bowling; three gold, two silver and eight bronze in gymnastics; one gold, a silver and a bronze in swimming; a silver medal for the equestrian team; and one gold, two silvers and one bronze in equestrian. Weightlifting took three gold, three silvers and one bronze medal, while athletics claimed two gold and two bronze. Judo clinched two bronze medals whereas table tennis collected a silver medal. Tennis grabbed two gold, a silver and two bronze, while badminton snared two gold and a bronze medal.
Unlike the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, the Special Olympics do not provide a medal table since there is supposed to be no competitive pressure among nations.
Instead, the top three finishers of each competition were honored with gold, silver and bronze medals, while the fourth to eighth place finishers received ribbons with their placement printed on them.
A total of 4,002 medals and 6,670 placement ribbons were presented at 1,334 award ceremonies.
More than 6,000 Special Olympics athletes and Unified partners (those athletes without intellectual disability) from 176 countries competed in 26 sports guided by 3,000 coaches. There were 18,000 volunteers on duty during the nine days of the competition.
Held in Germany for the first time, it was the biggest major multi-sport event in the country since the 1972 Olympic Games.
The host also had the largest delegation at the World Games. The Special Olympics Germany team comprised 573 people, including 413 athletes and Unified partners.
Special Olympics is the world's largest sports organisation for children and adults with intellectual disabilities providing year-round training and activities to five million participants and Unified Sports partners in 172 countries. Its competitions are held every day, all around the world, including local, national and regional competitions, adding up to more than 100,000 events a year.
The World Games, held every four years and recognised by the International Olympic Committee, are an occasion and an opportunity to focus on the practical implementation of the UN Convention on the rights of the differently abled and to allow them to participate more in social life, especially in sports.
The Berlin Games were thus a big huge opportunity for inclusion. The closing ceremony, held near the iconic Brandenburg Gate, a symbol of Germany's unity, created yet another unforgettable moment together.
The Egyptian delegation received a heroic welcome at Cairo International Airport led by Minister of Youth and Sport Ashraf Sobhi and Minister of Social Solidarity Nevine Al-Kabash. The ministers attended the first days of the competition where they had the chance to see the Egyptian athletes in action.
“We are so proud of the amazing results achieved by the Egyptian Special Olympics programme in Berlin, thanks to the will and determination of the athletes, coaches and the administration of the delegation,” Al-Kabash told the media after receiving the delegation in the airport.
“We are here at the airport to congratulate them for their exceptional performances and results. The Ministry of Social Solidarity will always continue supporting the Special Olympics programme in Egypt in order to maintain their sports success and achievements and raise the Egyptian flag in the continental, regional and world games.”
Sobhi said he was satisfied with the achievements and glad to receive the delegation after bringing such glory to the country. “We are so proud of the whole delegation, athletes, coaches and administrators, especially the athletes who showed such stamina and determination in their competitions. We have been there to support them and seen how dedicated they were to reach the podium and fly the Egyptian flag,” Sobhi said.
“The political leadership is keen to support sports and athletes in general and the Special Olympics athletes specifically in order to maintain the highest levels and worldwide achievements. They have made us all proud,” Sobhi added.
After the success of the Berlin Games, the Italian city of Torino will host the next Special Olympics World Winter Games.
* A version of this article appears in print in the 6 July, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly
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