CAIRO, 17 November 2007 — Saudi athletes and officials praised the Saudi Olympic Committee in facilitating their stay and participation in the 11th Pan Arab Games in Egypt.
Accommodation was top priority and all athletes were billeted in five-star hotels along with their officials, who stressed the committee had covered all their needs. They were also offered new jerseys and bags filled with their personal necessities and clothes.
Saudi national teams with special needs too were easily arranged to stay in hotels near their competition venues, according to their team official.
Health and fitness were also among the committee concerns and hence for the first time Saudi delegation included 13 paramedic members to attend to athletes with injury and fitness woes.
Dr. Salih Al-Harthi, head of the Saudi medical team, said that due to the large number of athletes totaling more than 600 they had to make sure they could all be treated equally when required.
Hence, they assigned 13 doctors to join the delegation and offered them several workshops to prepare them for the event. Before arriving in Cairo he said they distributed sheets to all the athletes to fill in case someone is using any medication for blood pressure or diabetes for example to provide it for them here.
“Even if an athlete has his own doctor I requested they contact me and inform me to facilitate his treatment,” said the doctor.
“We would be glad to help anyone even the media not only the athletes,” stressed Dr. Al-Harthi.
Though media men face some difficulties with the organization of the event here, several reporters said the Saudi committee has been very cooperative in helping them make the coverage easier to do.
