In a press conference held in the Syrian Capital of Damascus, following the three-day
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SOMENA Managing Director Ayman Abdel Wahab and Dr. Faisal Al Bassry Chairman of SO Syria during the press conference .
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Regional Chairmanship’s meetings and the SOMENA Seventh Regional Games’ LOC, Syria was announced as the host of SOMENA Seventh Regional Games – Syria 2010.
It was decided that the Games be held through the period of September 25 till October 3, 2010 under the patronage of First Lady Asmaa El Assad of the Syrian Republic.
During the press conference, speeches were delivered by Chairman Ayman Abdel Wahab of SOMENA and Dr. Faisal Al Bassry Chairman of SO Syria.
The conference was attended by SOMENA Sports and Competitions Director Mohammad Nasser, IT Manager Dr. Mohammad El Asfoury, and Competitions Manager Sherif El Fouly. From the Games’ LOC, Raja’a Al Daghoud National Director of SO Syria, Sports Manager Bassel Hajaar and Head of the Sports committees, all attended. In the presence of representatives from the various Syrian media, the conference touched upon all details related to the Games.
In his speech, SOMENA Managing Director Ayman Abdel Wahab stated that the SO movement is close to taking an outstanding leap with the launch of the Games. Abdel Wahab said 2010 will mark the launch of the third five-year development plan, which aims at increasing the number of athletes to 250,000.
He also described the region’s programs as becoming a factual advance, in terms of the ever growing concern laid on the activities of individuals with intellectual disabilities in the region. Abdel Wahab also highlighted the ongoing growth in the physique of athletes partaking in the Games as living proof of his expectations.
Going over the history of the SOMENA Regional Games since its beginning, Abdel Wahab reviewed the background of the first Regional Games since the first one, held in Egypt under the patronage of its First Lady Suzan Mubarak ,up until the sixth Games which was held in Abu Dhabi, highlighting the ever growing increase in the number of participants.
Syria Musters Full Potentials
In his statement, Dr. Faisal Al-Basry expressed delight over Syria’s hosting of the Games, describing the event as involving an extreme humane aspect.
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Representatives from the various Syrian media attended the conference.
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In his address, Al-Basry stated that the quota of each of SOMENA’s 23 Arab countries, in addition to Iran, partaking in the Games was within 142 individuals planning to participate in all of the Games’ 15 sports.
Al Basry listed the sports to be competed in during the Games to include: track and field, swimming, cycling, table tennis, bocce, bowling, equestrian, handball, unified sports futsal, badminton, roller skating, weight lifting, unified sports basketball for females, floor hockey and tennis.
In relation to the event, Al Basry said Syria is mobilizing all sports facilities it owns to ensure great success out of the Games, which he describes as the largest for individuals with intellectual disabilities in the region. Along with the huge number of participants, Al Basry pointed out other parallel events that will take place alongside of the Games, such as: regional conferences for Families, Youth and Schools, Athlete Leadership, Health Screening and Young Athletes.
Approaching the organizational aspect, Dr. Al Basry said all of the Games’ committees were constituted and timings determined. By early October, according to Al Basry, the Games’ mascot will be revealed and official website launched.
On another note, Dr. Al Basry stated that the competitions will be held at the venues of “Tishreen”, “Al Fayha’a” and “Martyr Bassel Equestrian Club”. During the month of April in 2010, Dr. Al Basry said a conference will be held for all heads of delegations, and training courses will be held for Syrian doctors who will partake in the Healthy Athletes program.
Dr. Al Basry concluded his speech confirming that Syria’s hosting of the SOMENA Seventh Regional Games is a message to the world reflecting the support and concern directed towards individuals with intellectual disabilities on the official level as well as individual level. A message that he also described as reflecting civilization and humanity from Damascus, the oldest inhabited city throughout the world’s history, which makes the SOMENA Seventh Games-Syria 2010 the largest in the region to date.