UK minister receives Palestinian paralympic delegation

UK Minister for the Middle East Alistair Burt welcomed on Friday the Palestinian Paralympic delegation to London, said the British Foreign Office press release. The Palestinian Paralympic delegation, which consists of two athletes Mohammed Fannouna, 32, and Khamis Zaqout, 47, and the accompanying delegation were received at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and given a tour of the building.  Afterwards, Burt showed the delegation around Parliament. Burt said, “I was delighted to formally welcome Fannouna and Zaqout to London and to the Paralympic Games. They have overcome considerable obstacles just to compete here, and I would like to pay tribute to the dedication and determination that has been shown by them, their coaches and the Palestinian Paralympic Committee led by Akram Okkeh despite the difficulties they have faced.” “Their stories are genuinely inspiring, and their achievements all the more impressive for being made with such limited resources and facilities. I wish them every success in the Paralympics, and will be following their progress with interest,” he said. Before leaving for the UK, the athletes visited Al Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock in a trip facilitated by the British Consulate General in Jerusalem, and attended a Garden Party at the British Consul’s Residence. Fannouna is expected to compete in the long jump, javelin, discus and shot put. He won a bronze medal in long jump at the Athens Paralympic Games 2004. Zaqout, on the other hand, will compete in the shot put, discus and javelin.