Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: Ambassador of France Nicolas Galey hosted the post-Olympic reception for Pakistan’s winners in Paris Olympic games—Arshad Nadeem (Gold in javelin throw) and Haider Ali (bronze in Discus Throw in Para-Olympics). The ambassador was all praise for the duo, their coaches, colleagues, medical and trainers, families and the entire squad for participating in the games.
The reception was attended by a large number of ambassadors, diplomats (from Germany, Spain, Poland, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Romania, Tunisia, members of the Right to Play Ali Khayyam and his team, officials of the Pakistan Olympic Association, Syed Naveed Qamar former Minister, Senator Sherry Rehman, friends and family members of the champions.
It may be mentioned that in July this year, prior to their leaving for Paris Olympic games, Ambassador Galey had hosted a similar reception and wished them success. “You won laurels for your countrymen and women and it is something that has made everyone proud,” said the French ambassador.
“Two months ago, on July 8, I was happy and honored, with the entire French embassy team and all our guests, to receive many of you at the embassy, as you were preparing to fly to Paris for the Olympic and Paralympic Games,” said the ambassador adding “so much has happened in the last two months.”
The ambassador highlighted the fact that though Pakistan’s Olympic and Paralympic delegations in Paris were not the largest ones – especially the Paralympic delegation yet, he said, it brought a gold medal in the javelin throw – Pakistan’s first individual medal in the history of the Olympic Games and a bronze medal in the discus throw.
Ambassador Nicolas also remembered Pierre de Coubertin the very conservative Frenchman who had this very modern idea: resurrecting the Olympic Games according to which “the most important thing in the Olympic Games, he said, is not to win but to take part.”
Your success represents years of effort, often in solitude and without support or encouragement other than that of your families, friends and coaches, to participate in this unique event for any athlete: the Olympic and Paralympic Games, said the ambassador.
The ambassador highlighted the specific impact of the Paralympic Games. Para-Olympians are athletes, like any other – and many do not like to be considered heroes. But they are certainly less well-known than others, and the Paralympic competitions showed the world, including the Pakistani public, that accidents of genetics or life do not prevent anyone from achieving incredible feats.
The ambassador praised the simple, unassuming and humble nature of Arshad saying his press conference with his Indian competitor friend Neeraj Chopra demonstrated the most ‘estimable human and sporting values, which later their mothers echoes in the following days in a moving and sincere way.
The ambassador at the end wished the duo success in Los Angeles in four years. “I am sure, Pakistani athletes will win more medals because the example of Nadeem and Haider work a great encouragement to the athletes of Pakistan and, let’s hope, an incentive for high-level sport to be supported and promoted in this country and for you to have even more success.”
Arshad Nadeem’s coach expressed gratitude to the French Embassy for hosting the pre and the post-Olympic receptions. He called the arrangements in Paris Olympic Village quite up to the mark and termed their days there quite memorable period of their time.
