By Manal Abdel Fattah
The Embassy of France in Cairo organized a special celebration for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, under the slogan “The Road to Paris 2024,” with distinguished Egyptian participation.
In his speech during the celebration, Ambassador Eric Chevalier, the French ambassador to Egypt, expressed his happiness at gathering Egyptian players, coaches and heads of sports federations two months before the start of the Games, saying: “I am pleased that we are gathering the Egyptian sports family two months before the start of the Games in Paris, and the heads of sports federations.”
Ambassador Chevalier stressed that the Consulate will provide all facilities to participants and all those wishing to attend the event, including facilitating visa procedures, to enhance the experience of Egyptian athletes in Paris.
The ambassador stressed that France is striving to ensure that the Olympic Games are hosted with the best possible organization, stressing his country’s full support for disabled athletes by enhancing the services available to them in Paris.
Chevalier also pointed out that this tournament will witness, for the first time, complete equality between the sexes, men and women, which reflects the Olympic Committee’s commitment to achieving equality in sports.
Ambassador Chevalier extended his congratulations to Al-Ahly Club on winning the African Champions League title, expressing his hope that the participation of Egyptian athletes in the 2024 Paris Olympics will be crowned with success and distinction.
At the conclusion of his speech, the ambassador pointed out that the upcoming Olympic Games are an opportunity to strengthen sports relations between Egypt and France, wishing all the best to the participating Egyptian athletes.
For his part, Hossam El-Din Mostafa, President of the Egyptian Olympic and Paralympic Committee, expressed his thanks to France for hosting the tournament, explaining that 1,500 players around the world are expected to participate, and the Paralympic delegation will participate in 13 sports with the participation of 70 players.
He added: “The opening ceremony will be held in the Place de la Concorde, which is the largest square in Paris, where the Egyptian Obelisk is located, making Egypt the focus of the world’s attention.”
For his part, Sherif Idris, President of the Egyptian Olympic Committee, said that the participating Egyptian delegation is the largest delegation in history, with about 150 Egyptian players participating, and the delegation may reach 180 with the presence of coaches and administrators, thanking the Minister of Youth and Sports, Ashraf Sobhi, and the Ministry of Youth and Sports, for The efforts made in this regard.
The participants in the celebration expressed their great optimism for the success of the Olympic Games in Paris, looking forward to achieving great sporting achievements and highlighting the great Egyptian role in this global event.
This event comes two months before the start of the Games in Paris, which will be held from July 26 to August 11, 2024, while the Paralympics will run from August 28 to September 8.
The Olympic competitions for handball, football and rugby will begin on July 24, two days before the opening ceremony.
