In a pivotal meeting held in Paris, President of the Egyptian Paralympic Committee (EPC) Hossameddin Mustafa and President of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Andrew Parsons shared their thoughts with Abeer Anwar on the future of Paralympic sports, the ongoing 2024 Paralympic Games being held in the French capital, and Egypt’s expanding role in the Paralympic movement across Africa.
The discussion, which focused on Egypt’s involvement in the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games and the broader future of Paralympic sports in Africa, offered profound insights into Egypt’s burgeoning role in the global Paralympic movement. The conversation, as covered by Al-Ahram Weekly, included Egypt’s growing influence and its strategic plans to position itself as a leader in Paralympic sports on both local and continental levels.
Mustafa highlighted the introduction of new talent in Egypt’s Paralympic delegation, with nearly 40 per cent of the athletes being fresh faces. “We have reshuffled almost all national teams across various sports to allow new elements to qualify and who are capable of competing not only in Paris 2024 but also in the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympic Games,” Mustafa said. He also underlined the delegation’s gender diversity, consisting of 18 female and 36 male athletes, marking a significant step towards gender equality. “Our focus is not just on winning medals; we are preparing these young athletes for the future,” he added.
Parsons acknowledged Egypt’s strong presence at the Games, noting the visibility of Egyptian athletes across various sports. “Everywhere I go, I see the red-coloured outfits that reflect the Egyptian flag,” Parsons remarked. “It’s impressive to see Egypt participating in so many sports, which is a clear indication of growth.” Adding: “it’s great to have you back at the helm, Dr Hossameddin Mustafa.” Mustafa had left the EPC board in 2012 but returned two years ago as the committee’s head.
Mustafa outlined Egypt’s ambitious plans to bid for the 2036 or 2040 Olympics and Paralympics, leveraging the advanced infrastructure of the new Egyptian Olympic City in the New Administrative Capital. The city, fully equipped to host large international events, will host the Para Swimming Series this December and the World Powerlifting Championship in 2025. “We have already secured agreements to host the Para Swimming Series annually until 2027,” Mustafa noted.
However, he also identified challenges, particularly the shortage of qualified local personnel who classify Para athletes according to the degree of their disability. “We are working to have 500 national classifiers across various sports and Egyptian governorates. Our goal is to have 30 international classifiers within three years,” he said.
Parsons offered the IPC’s support in training more classifiers and praised Egypt’s commitment to developing all aspects of the Paralympic movement, as evidenced by the country hosting last year’s classification summit in the New Administrative Capital.
Mustafa expressed gratitude for the Egyptian government’s support, particularly from the Ministry of Youth and Sports, led by Ashraf Sobhi. The backing has been instrumental in attracting sponsors, with Egypt securing nine sponsors for the Paris 2024 Games, a record number for the country. Looking ahead, the EPC plans to launch a social media campaign to attract additional sponsors, aiming to reduce reliance on government funding.
Parsons expressed his eagerness to meet with Sobhi in Paris. “It will be an honour to discuss various issues related to Paralympic sports with him.” He also commended Mustafa for leading Egypt’s Paralympic movement, emphasising the importance of “strong nations like Egypt” in guiding Africa’s Paralympic development.
Mustafa said Egypt will host the African Games in 2027 and that he had requested the African Paralympic Committee to allow Egypt to host the Paralympic version concurrently. Parsons said he strongly supported the idea, highlighting the success of similar models in Asia and America. “I am confident that Egypt will successfully host the African Para Games. Hosting both versions of the Games in the same country, especially with government support, is the future,” Parsons remarked.
Mustafa also spoke about the EPC’s efforts to develop various sports and its collaboration with NGOs to enhance the social impact of the Paralympic movement. Parsons agreed on the importance of intertwining sports with entertainment to advance the movement’s future. Additionally, Mustafa announced Egypt’s intention to bid to host the headquarters of World Para Powerlifting, a move Parsons enthusiastically supported, recognising Egypt’s potential to pioneer international federations in Africa.
Reflecting on the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games’ opening ceremony, Parsons expressed his satisfaction, describing it as a “revolution of inclusion”. He praised the decision to hold the ceremony outside the traditional stadium setting, at Place de la Concorde, linking it to the spirit of the French Revolution. “Sports can remove barriers for persons with disabilities, showcasing their ability to excel in all areas of life. The ceremony was a powerful start to what promises to be an exceptional Games,” Parsons stated.
Following the meeting, it was evident that Egypt is set to play a leading role in the future of Paralympic sports, not just within its borders but across the African continent. With strong governmental support, a focus on scientific development, and ambitious plans for the future, Egypt is poised to become a central hub for Paralympic excellence.
* A version of this article appears in print in the 5 September, 2024 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly
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