The Arab Republic of Egypt and Olympism

The Arab Republic of Egypt and Olympism Sacred land of Olympia Eternal resting-place of Coubertin Mother of immortal Olympism Watch over the sporting youth of the universe For the peace of humanity Angelo C. Bolanaki, IOC member in Egypt from 1910 to 1933 EGYPT 1 million sq. km. 36,000,000 inhabitants (approximately in 1976). Role of the COE COMITE OLYMPIQUE EGYPTIEN (COE) Founded in 1910. President in office: Mohamed Ahmed*. Secretary General in office: Abdelaziz Elshafei*. Address: rue Kasr-el-Nil 13, B.P. 2055, Le Caire. Telephone: 970125, 970917, 970918, 970977. Cable: Olympiade Le Caire. 692 To ensure national participation in the Olympic Games. To see that the Olympic principles and rules are respected. To favour the development of the sports movement over the whole territory of the Arab Republic of Egypt by supporting the activities of the national federations. * See biographical notes.

Creation All along the Nile Valley archaeologists have discovered numerous documents reminding us that the civilisation of Ancient Egypt was the centre of the physical exercise cult, and of several sports such as wrestling, swimming and fencing. The famous work Sport in Ancient Egypt by the current IOC member in Egypt, Mr. Ahmed E. Touny * and Dr. Steffen Wenig, bears witness to this. Five thousand years later, Egypt had unreservedly joined the modern Olympic movement. Mr. Angelo C. Bolanaki*, an excellent athlete and the first Egyptian in 1902 to participate in international competitions outside his country, was the principal architect of this adherence. He became friends with Baron Pierre de Coubertin, whom he met in Paris in 1906. Two years later, the renovator of the Olympic Games proposed him as the IOC s delegate to Egypt. He was unanimously elected and Coubertin himself announced to his Egyptian friend in a letter dated 16th June 1910 that he had become the first IOC member in Egypt. Bolanaki* therefore undertook the foundation of a National Olympic Committee under the high patronage of Khedive Abbas Hilmy II. First Board of the COE (1910) PT: H.H. Prince Omar Toussoun*. T: H.E. Emine Yahia Pacha. S: Angelo C. Bolanaki*. Ms: H.E. Ahmed Ziwer, Pacha Governor of Alexandria, H.E. Mohamed Abani Pacha, H.E. Hassan Mazloun Pacha and the delegates of the national sports federations of Egypt. Federations affillated to the COE in 1910 Athletics, rowing, cycling, fencing, football and swimming. Development Even before his election to the IOC, Bolanaki* had had the idea of creating in Alexandria, the city of his birth, a stadium capable of one day welcoming the youth of the world to the Angelo Bolanaki in 1902. celebration of an Olympiad. On 12th May 1911 the Municipality told him that it would in principle be prepared to do all that was necessary for the celebration of the Vlth Olympiad in 1916. As it happened, the work on the terracing of the stadium did not begin until October 1921 and the whole project was completed in 1928. The first African Games, which were unfortunately cancelled, were to have taken place there in 1929. The first Egyptian Olympic delegation in 1912 was indeed modest in size, being composed of a single athlete, but the COE did not slacken in its efforts to promote Olympism. On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the re-establishment of the Olympic Games in 1914, the Comité Olympique Egyptien organised a great sports festival on the Chatby ground from 3rd to 5th April. The Olympic flag, created by Coubertin the year before, therefore flew over a stadium for the first time. This historic flag was given to the IOC for its museum on 28th August 1958. 693

H.H. Prince Omar Toussoun H.E. Mohammed Taher Pacha Ahmed Eldemerdash Touny To show Egypt that he appreciated its interest, Baron de Coubertin wrote to the COE President, H.H. Prince Omar Toussoun*, as follows:...i also take this opportunity to express the joy which we experienced at the Egyptian Sports Associations celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Olympic Games... In 1938 the IOC members were invited to meet in Cairo for the 37th Session; Mr. Mohammed Taher*, elected member of the IOC in 1934, ensured the success of this meeting. More recently, the COE has been able to benefit from the experience and authority of talented leaders who, among other things, ensured the successful organisation of the first Mediterranean Games (1951, Alexandria) and the Pan-Arab Games (1953, Alexandria and 1965, Cairo). The chief person responsible for these events and a tireless defender of the sporting movement, Mr. Ahmed Eldemerdash Touny*, was elected to the IOC in 1960. He continued to work unceasingly in aid of national sports activities and remained the driving force behind the COE until the accession of a young leader, Mr. Abdelaziz Elshafei*, to the position of Secretary General of the NOC. Mr. Mohamed Ahmed*, the current, much appreciated President, had the distinction of ensuring the critical succession of Abdel Moneim Wahby*, famous in his capacity as former President of the Fédération lnternationale de Basketball Amateur. 694 IOC members in the Arab Republic of Egypt 1. Angelo C. Bolanaki*, from 1910 to 1933,¹ 2. H.E. Mohammed Taher Pacha*, from 1934 to 1968, honorary member until his death in 1970. 3. Ahmed Eldemerdash Touny*, since 1960. ¹ Then member in Greece until 1963. Successive Presidents of the COE June 1910 - May 1934: H.H. Prince Omar Toussoun *. May 1934 - January 1938: H.H. Prince Mohamed Abdel Moneim. January 1938 - May 1946: H.H. Prince Ismail Dawoud. May 1946 - October 1952: H.E. Mohammed Taher Pacha *. April 1954 - August 1957: Mr. Abdel Rahman Amin. March 1960 - October 1962: Mr. Hussein El Shafei. October 1962 - March 1967: Mr. Taalat Khairy. March 1967 - July 1971: Dr. Mohamed Safieldine Abouelezz. July 1971 - January 1972: Dr. Moustaffa Kamal Tolbah. January 1972 - January 1974: Mr. Abdel Moneim Wahby *. Since 1974: Mr. Mohamed Ahmed*. * See biographical notes.

EGYPT AND THE OLYMPIC GAMES Antwerp 1920: the Egyptian delegation. Date of first participation: 1912. has so far taken part in the Winter Games. Egypt participated in the Olympic Games for the first time in 1912 (in Egyptian cities which have applied Stockholm) with a single athlete, a to stage the Olympic Games fencer named Mohamed Ahassanein Pacha, who at the time was a student Alexandria, candidate city for the at Oxford. organisation of the Olympic Games Since then Egypt s sportsmen have celebrating the Vlth, Xlth and Xllth been represented at all the Olympiad Olympiads in 1916, 1936 and 1940. celebrations with the exception of The authorities of the city of Cairo those of 1932 and 1956. In 1976 in Mont- and the COE had considered subreal the COE s delegation, composed mitting their candidature for the orof 41 athletes, withdrew before the ganisation of the 1964 Olympic Games, opening of the Games. No Egyptian then for those of 1968. 695

Representation of Egypt at the Olympic Games from 1908 to 1972 1908 1912 1 1920 2 1 15 2 1 1924 1 1 3 3 22 1 1928 8 16 2 1932 1936 5 10 4 6 18 8 1948 2 1 14 8 10 22 10 11 1952 6 8 14 7 8 20 9 7 1956 1960 2 11 4 4 6 19 6 5 1964 1 16 10 4 5 19 2 5 1968 5 5 3 1972 2 12 6 Not included on the programme, 696

1908 1912 1 1920 1 22 1924 2 1 34 1928 4 2 32 1932 0 1936 0² 4 10 65 1948 14 21 113 1952 12 19 7 117 1956 0 1960 4 14 3 78 1964 5 12 6 85 1968 4 12 2 31 1972 6 2 28 697

The Egyptian Olympic Champions 1928: lbrahim Moustafa. 1936: Mohammed Mesbah. Titles obtained at the Olympic Games Name Christian Name Sport Event Year Birth Death Notes Moustafa Nosseir Mesbah El Thouny Fayad Shams Ibrahim Sayed Mohammed Khader Mahmoud Ibrahim Greco-Roman wrestling Light heavyweight 1928 1905 1974 Weightlifting Light heavyweight 1928 1906 1968 Weightlifting Lightweight 1936 1916 Weightlifting Middleweight 1936 1914 1958 Weightlifting Featherweight 1948 1926 Weightlifting Lightweight 1948 1914 3rd in 1936 Egyptian Olympic medallists As our table indicates, it is in the sports of strength that the Egyptian athletes have gained the best Olympic honours. Besides the six Olympic titles mentioned, let us note the silver or bronze medallists in weightlifting: Soliman Saleh (1936, featherweight, second), Ibrahim Wassif (1936, light heavyweight, third), Mohamed Attia (1948, lightweight, second); in Greco-Roman wrestling: Mahmoud Assan (1948, bantamweight, second), lbrahim Orabi (1948, light heavyweight, third), Abdel Rached (1952, featherweight, third), Eid Ossman (1960, flyweight, second); and in boxing: Abdel Moneim El Guindi (1960, flyweight, third). In 1928, the diver Farid Simaika came second in the platform competition and third in the springboard diving. 1948: lbrahim Shams (right) and Mahmoud Fayad (left). 698 Let us also remember the fourth places held by the football team both in 1928 and 1964, and by the show jumpers in 1960.

PRESENT ORGANISATION OF THE COE The current COE statutes were approved in 1973. Composition: The COE brings together delegates of sports federations whose sport is on the Olympic programme. The General Assembly holds its ordinary session once a year. It can be called for an extraordinary meeting at the request of the Board or of at least one quarter of its members. The Board, elected for four years, confers at least once a month. It is composed of the President, the Vice- President, the Treasurer, the Secretary General and his Assistant, the IOC member in Egypt and four members. Present members of the Board PT: Mr. Mohamed Ahmed*; Ex officio M.: Mr. A.D. Touny*, IOC member; VPT: Mr. Abdel Azim Ashri*; SG: Mr. Abdelaziz Elshafei*; Asst. SG: Mr. Mohamed Mohyeldine; T: Mr. Mohamed Abdou; MS: Dr. Mohamed Fadali, Mr. Mohamed Ahmed, President Abdelaziz Elshafei, Secretary General Ahmed Khairy, Mr. Nassef Selim, Dr. Moustaffa Fahim. Financing of the COE The Supreme Council for Youth and Sport, a State body, subsidises the COE. The assistance granted for 1975 was 375,000 Egyptian (2,475,000 SF) ¹, 390,000 for 1976 and 450,000 for 1977. ¹ At the rate of 6.60 in July 1975. Federations affiliated to the COE Federation Affiliation Members Creation NOC IF in 1972 Athletics 1910 1910 1913 2 185 Rowing 1910 1910 1925 960 Basketball 1930 1931 1935 17 000 Boxing 1923 1924 1937 6 270 Cycling 1910 1910 1945 2 000 Fencing 1910 1910 1929 1 500 Football 1920 1920 1926 20 000 Gymnastics 1910 1910 1931 960 Handball 1957 1961 1952 10 000 Hockey 1943 1944 1944 1 050 Weightlifting 1916 1920 1923 10 000 Judo 1963 1964 1963 750 Wrestling 1920 1920 1937 5 000 Swimming 1910 1910 1910 2 400 Equestrian 1943 1944 1946 285 Shooting 1950 1951 1952 220 Volleyball 1946 1947 1946 2 800 Yachting 1959 1960 1960 115 * See biographical notes. 699

THE COE AND OLYMPISM IOC Session held in Egypt 1938-37th Session in Cairo. Olympic day It has been celebrated in Egypt each year since 1970. The Olympic federations put on various promotional displays. In addition, the COE endeavours to keep the Olympic spirit alive by commemorating, as in 1954 and 1974, the anniversary of the Olympic renovation or by organising, as in 1971, an Olympic study week. Protection of the Olympic emblems Since its creation in 1910, the COE has seen to the strict observance of the protection of the Olympic emblems, and notably the use of the terms Olympic and Olympiad. Laws No. 26 for 1965, No. 41 for 1972 and No. 77 for 1975 regulate the use of the Olympic emblems by the following text: The Comité Olympique Egyptien alone holds the right to use the recognised Olympic emblems according to the rules mentioned in the Olympic protocol. No other body may call itself Olympic Committee, nor may its name be used as the title of a shop or goods, and no other body may manufacture its insignia or emblems without authorisation. The chief aim of the Comité Olympique Egyptien is to see to the development of sports activity in Egypt, to promote the Olympic movement and to see to the observance of the Olympic principles and rules and the protection of amateurism. International Olympic Academy Since 1962, the COE has regularly sent a delegation of a maximum of five members to the IOA Sessions in Olympia. Publications of the COE From 1954 to 1960 the COE published a monthly magazine in Arabic and French entitled Bulletin officiel du Comité Olympique Egyptien. At present the Committee s officials are studying the possibility of once again publishing such a bulletin in the form of a quarterly in Arabic and English. Egyptian Olympic bibliography Angelo Bolanaki* was an IOC member who was particularly attracted by the history of sport. He wrote an article in French entitled Historique du sport en Egypte. Le stade d Alexandrie. La Renaissance de I Olympisme 1894-1954. Mr. Ahmed E. Touny* and Steffen Wenig wrote a remarkable work in 1969 called Sport in Ancient Egypt, published in English and German by Edition Leipzig. 700

SPORT IN EGYPT Other governing bodies The Supreme Council for Youth and Sport, the highest governmental body, supervises sporting activities as a whole. The Minister for Education, through his department for school sports education, controls sport in school. The University Sports Union, under the control of the Minister for Higher Education, looks after student sporting activities. State aid for the sports movement The State subsidises the various federations and sports bodies. It is also involved in the spheres of equipment, school sport, and the training of teachers. Formation of sports leaders Five physical education colleges train the necessary instructors in the various branches of sport. Sport at school A great effort has been made to allow an introduction to sport at school. Sports installations According to the latest statistics, there are: 51 sports installations in Cairo. 39 sports installations in Alexandria. 31 sports installations in the towns of the Suez Canal region. 74 sports installations in other towns. 36 centres for the protection of youth with sports grounds. Among the most important installations, let us note: the stadium of the city of Cairo, built in 1960. It can accommodate 100,000 spectators; the stadium of the city of Alexandria, built in 1928 for the commemoration of the first African Games which were cancelled. Renovated in 1961 for the first Mediterranean Games, it has a seating capacity of 40,000 spectators. There is also a 50 m swimming pool, a diving pool and an indoor hall able to hold 10,000 people; the stadium of the city of Port Said, constructed in 1964, with a seating capacity of 35,000 spectators; the towns of Damanhour, Beni Souef, Tantah, Benha have stadia holding 25/35,000 spectators; the National Sporting Club, founded in Cairo in 1907, has 14 grounds for various sports, a 50 m swimming pool, and an athletics and football stadium for 35,000 spectators; the Guezira Sporting Club, one of the oldest clubs in Egypt, having been founded in Cairo in 1882, has swimming pools, installations for 15 sports, including 25 tennis courts with stands for 10,000 spectators; the football stadium of the Zamalek Sporting Club holds 45,000 spectators; there are 81 swimming pools of which 10 are 50 m long and only one indoor; there are two sports halls able to hold 10,000 spectators, one at Alexandria and the other at the Cairo Police Academy. Sports which draw the biggest crowds Football, basketball, volleyball, boxing, weightlifting and wrestling. Sports experiencing the greatest development Football, basketball, volleyball, swimming, weightlifting, wrestling and boxing. Number of sports club members It is estimated that two million Egyptian men and women practise sport. 701

THE EGYPTIANS AND THE INTERNATIONAL FEDERATIONS Abdel Moneim Wahby Abdel Azim Ashri To date only one Egyptian has had the honour of holding the presidency of an International Federation whose sport appears on the Olympic programme: Mr. Abdel Moneim Wahby*, President of the Fédération Internationale de Basketball Amateur from 1968 to 1976. Among the Egyptian officials currently serving on the management bodies of the IFs, let us mention Mr. Abdel Azim Ashri*, Assistant Secretary General of the Fédération lnternationale de Basketball Amateur, General Abdel Aziz Moustafa, Vice-President of the Fédération lnternationale de Football Association since 1962, General Shafik Mehana, Vice-President of the Union lnternationale de Tir (shooting) since 1958, Dr. Mohamed Fadali, Vice-President of the International Handball Federation since 1958, General Abdallah Refaat, Vice-President of the Fédération lnternationale de Volleyball since 1962, Mr. Youssef Ezz El Dine, Vice- President of the Fédération Internationale de Natation Amateur (swimming) since 1968, and Mr. Mahmoud Raafat, Vice-President of the Fédération Internationale de Hockey since 1968. BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES Mohamed Ahmed President of the Comité Olympique Egyptien since 1974. Born in Cairo in 1921, a hockey and football player, he presided over the Eqyptian Football Federation. In this capacity, he took an active part in the work of the COE and was elected its President in 1974. He carries out the highest State functions, since he is Secretary of the Presidential Council of the Union of Arab Republics and Vice-President of Ministers. Abdel Azim Ashri Assistant Secretary General of the Fédération lnternationale de Basketball Amateur and Secretary General of the African Amateur Basketball Confederation. Born in Cairo in 1913, a chartered accountant and former basketball player, he officiated as an international referee from 1945 to 1962, notably in the 1948 and 1952 Olympic Games. President of the national federation of this sport, he was elected Vice-President of the COE in 1974 after having been its Treasurer from 1965 to 1974. Angelo C. Bolanaki IOC member in Egypt from 1910 to 1932, and in Greece from 1932 to 1963. From 1906 onwards, once his career as an athlete was over, he had one thought only to develop sport in Egypt. A close friend of Coubertin, he became an influential member of the IOC. Having defended the idea of African Games in vain, he put forward the idea of the Mediterranean Games, the first of which were organised in his home town, Alexandria, in 1951. When he chose Greek nationality in 1932, the President of the COE, Prince Omar Toussoun wrote to him: It is 702

with great sorrow that I see you leave our institution, of which you were the soul and the creator... Abdelaziz Elshafei Secretary General of the Comité Olympique Egyptien since 1971. Born in 1938, first Under-Secretary of State to the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, Mr. Elshafei was an international swimmer and water polo player. He took part in the 1952 Olympic Games in the 400 m and 1,500 m freestyle, in 1960 in water polo and in 1968 as an international water polo referee. President of the Egyptian Swimming Federation, he joined the NOC and was chef de mission of the Egyptian delegations to the Mediterranean Games of Izmir (1971) and Algiers (1975), to the Olympic Games in Munich (1972) and to the African Games in Lagos (1973). As a minister he acceded to the presidency of the Supreme Sports Council in 1977. Mohammed Taher Pacha IOC member from 1934 to 1968. Doctor of Political and Social Sciences, his career was that of a statesman who dedicated all his leisure time to sport. In 1931, he founded the Aero Club of Egypt and became its President. Among other things, he presided over the NOC (1946-1952), the International Aeronautic Federation (1934-1947) and the national fencing federation (1936-1952). His activities within the IOC were manifold, being for a long time Chief of Protocol, member of the Executive Board from 1952 to 1957 and assistant member to President Brundage from 1960 to 1964. He remained honorary member of the IOC from 1968 till his death in 1970. Prince Omar Toussoun President of the Comité Olympique Egyptien from 1910 to 1935. First President of the Comité Olympique Egyptien, he applied himself, with the help of Angelo Bolanaki, to the task of broadening the Egyptian Olympic and sports movement. Thanks to him, the Egyptian delegation grew in number and quality from Olympiad to Olympiad. Ahmed Eldemerdash Touny IOC member since 1960. Born in 1907 in Mallawi. An all-round athlete, being national gymnastics champion (1927-1936) and diving champion in 1934, he is also an all-round sports leader: he founded the Egyptian Gymnastics Federation, of which he was Secretary General (1934-1953), then President (1952-1956); Secretary General of the national swimming federation (1939 to 1953); founder of the Round Egypt Cycle Race; Director of the Organising Committee for the first Mediterranean Games; Assistant Secretary General of the NOC from 1946 to 1952, then Secretary General from 1953 to 1960. He was responsible for the Olympic delegation of his country in 1948, 1952 and 1960. A Member of Parliament, his prestige, authority and devotion make him one of the most outstanding current sports leaders. Abdel Moneim Wahby President of the Fédération Internationale de Basketball Amateur from 1958 to 1976. Born in Cairo in 1912, he took part in the Olympic Games in 1936 with the national basketball team, and in those of 1948 and 1952 as referee. President of the Supreme Sports Council (1970 and 1971) with the rank of minister, Governor of the city of Alexandria (1973-1974), he presided over the COE from 1972 to 1974 after having been a member since 1960. 703