Highlighting the spirit of the Special Games, Qatar Paralympic Committee Secretary General Dr Hassan al-Ansari, said: “The issues of ‘competition’ in Special Games, is actually a combination of things. It is not just the physical ability, but also the social environment of the athlete that is taken into account. Of course, the rules and regulations are there, but the special athletes are classified in various events according their ability.”
Giving examples he added, “Group sports like basketball and volleyball for example; even though they are designed for those people (regular athletes), they are not regular games for special athletes. Their playing style is different, the rules and regulations are different.”
Coach Elwalid Maghmoul, who was part of Team Qatar during March 14-23 event said, “It’s not a competitive sport but a classification one. Before the start of the Games, the organisation committee classify the athletes according to their abilities and performance into various groups. The athletes then compete within these groups, so there is not much difference between the one finishing first and the one ending last. And that’s what represents the spirit of the Special Games – where everybody is a winner.”
“And then there is a big social part to the Games. Its organisation is built on the support of big nations of the world like US and UK,” he added.
On sports acting as the unifying factor in the region, Dr Ansari said, “That is the intention of the world leaders. (Besides), those athletes have been competing with each other for a long time and they have their own relationships and these are not affected by politics. The human relationship has been developed over a long time and it stays that way.”
Later coach Maghmoul even shed light on the team’s performance saying, “I cannot precisely comment on the team’s performance as it’s not that kind of sport, still in terms of the medals we won 12 medals – five golds, four silver and three bronze.”
Giving details he said, “We only participated with six athletes. Two athletes participated in bowling, two in athletics and two in powerlifting, and each athlete had his own coach, who was responsible for his ward.”
Speaking about the hospitality, Maghmoul, said, “Everything was very good. The accommodation and transportation of athletes from hotel to the stadium, everything was perfect.”
(Qatar Sports Press Committee)
