Guy Says Farewell to Lebanon with a Football Match: One year to Go to London Olympics

With only one year to go until the greatest show on earth – the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics– the British embassy in collaboration with the Lebanese Welfare Association for the Handicapped and the Lebanese Paralympics committee organized a farewell mini football match between the British embassy team and the land mine survivors at Jamhour School in Loueize.

More than 200 people attended alongside the British ambassador Frances Guy, the head of the Lebanese Welfare Association for the Handicapped and the Paralympic Committee Randa Berri, Lebanese political and social figures, fans and friends of teams, members of the Lebanese Welfare Association for the Handicapped and various media.

With the Omega clock London 2012 on display in her address, Ambassador Guy said: ‘We wanted to mark the event in our own special way in Lebanon through an event that demonstrates the inclusiveness the London Olympics is aiming for. I am proud to say that the plans for the London Olympics are on schedule, 3.5 million tickets have already been sold. London is proud to be hosting a green sustainable accessible and inclusive Olympic games. With 365 days to go, Britain stands ready to welcome the world to London – and you’re invited.

Mrs. Randa Berri stressed on the British embassy’s attention to the handicap and the theme of inclusion which London Games embrace in 2012. Berri also praised the humanitarian and diplomatic skills of the British Ambassador to Lebanon.

In London, The Foreign Secretary William Hague said: “The Foreign Office is playing a crucial part in telling the rest of the world what a great place the UK is to visit, do business and learn in the lead up to the Olympics and Paralympics. We are encouraging hundreds of thousands of visitors to find out about Games next year – it is going to be an incredible time in the UK and we are ready to welcome everybody. Events at our global network of posts are helping spread messages about the Games and I am pleased that Lebanon is doing so much to promote the Olympics.”

The friendly match began with sportsmanship and rivalry between the two teams leading to the embassy team scoring two clean goals to nil. (2-0)

At the end of the game, the Ambassador and Mrs. Berri presented the winning team with medals marking 2012 Olympic Games

It is worth noting that ‘Cadbury Lebanon’ provided to the British Embassy team with its sports outfits. Cadbury is one of the official sponsors of the London 2012 Games.