By: Nabila Essam

Sobhy: the activities of people of special needs represent one of the most important principles of the ministry's work.

Today, Saturday, the events of the second and final day of the first basketball league for girls with hearing impairments that has been launched under the patronage of Dr. Ashraf Sobhy, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, at Asmarat and this is in the framework of taking care of people with special needs in order to encourage girls to participate in sporting events and integrate the hearing impaired into athletic community.

The Ministry of Youth and Sports, through the Central Administration of Minister’s Affairs (Office for People of Determination), organized the first edition of basketball tournament for girls of hearing impairments, which is hosted by the Youth Sports City in Asmarat in Mokattam under the patronage of Dr. Ashraf Sobhy, Minister of Youth and Sports.

Dr. Ashraf Sobhi, Minister of Youth and Sports, said that the activities and projects implemented by the ministry for people of determination come at the forefront of the ministry’s work, in implementation of the political leadership’s directives to enable them to participate in various national work and instruct many integrated projects that are implemented specifically for them.

Noting that on the sidelines of the tournament, 30 families of the residents of the city of Asmarat were examined to see those who have hearing and vision impairments to help them and to provide all the necessary medical services to take care of them within the framework of the Egyptian state's plan to take care of people with abilities and determination in order to encourage them to practice sports within the framework of health care for all the people of the country.

The tournament started over two days from 1/10 to 2/10/2021 as the first 3/3 basketball tournament for the girls of hearing impairments, which is the Annahar Basketball Championship. The tournament includes more than 36 teams and more than 150 players representing 15 different governorates.

The organization of the tournament for the girls of hearing impairments aims to support those with special needs who always overcome difficulties in order to play sports to represent the name of Egypt in the continental and international tournaments, which was recently demonstrated in the participation of the Paralympic champions in the recent Tokyo Olympics, which prompted the Ministry of Youth and Sports to sponsor these heroes who fight many challenges to stand on the podium among the world champions.