Comunicado - PM - APENAS EM INGLÊS

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF TIMOR-LESTE
OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER

MEDIA RELEASE

Dili, November 17 2006

Timor-Leste disabled athletes get set to compete with 61 other nations

Fifteen elite Timor-Leste disabled athletes will next week travel to Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia to take part in the second largest Games in the world, the Far East and South Pacific Games for the Disabled (FESPIC).

The Prime Minister Dr José Ramos-Horta hosted a reception for the athletes at the Palacio do Governo today.

“If we wish to know about inspiration and strength, we need look no further than these courageous Timorese,” Dr Ramos-Horta said.

“Our nation can learn from the humility and dignity shown by our disabled people and their determination to overcome all obstacles to live full and rewarding lives.”

The Government of Timor-Leste is paying for the athletes’ airfares, accommodation, living expenses, visas, equipment and uniforms. Indonesia’s Merpati Airline has generously subsidized the cost of air fares. José da Silva Monteiro will lead the support group of officials with Agueda Fátima Amaral as coach and Joaquim da Costa Tavares as assistant coach.

The athletes range in age from 15 to 40 years and suffer disabilities from visual impairment to loss of limbs. They will participate in sports ranging from badminton, swimming, tennis and athletics events.

Sixty-two nations are competing in the Games which start on November 25 (next Saturday). The FESPIC Games are the biggest multi-sports and multi-disability event for athletes with disabilities in Asia and Oceania, and the second largest Games in the world, after the Paralympic Games. They are held every four years and, in 2002, in Busan Korea, 3,800 athletes and officials from 43 member nations competed in 17 sports.

This year’s Games look set to break a number of records, including: the most number of athletes participating; the most number of countries involved; and the most number of female athletes.

Our athletes will return to Dili on December 2.

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