Ambassador Nicolas Galey, hosts Pakistani athletes

Celina Ali

Islamabad: In a special ceremony held at his residence, the French Ambassador to Pakistan, Nicolas Galey, honored Pakistani athletes Arshad Nadeem and Haider Ali for their remarkable achievements in the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Arshad Nadeem, a gold medalist in javelin throw, and Haider Ali, a bronze medalist in discus throw, were praised for their extraordinary performances, which marked historic moments for Pakistan on the global sports stage.

The Ambassador noted that, although Pakistan’s Olympic and Paralympic delegations were relatively small, they made a huge impact with these victories, especially as Arshad’s gold was Pakistan’s first individual Olympic medal.

Reflecting on the athletes’ journey, Ambassador Galey recalled an event two months earlier when he had the privilege of hosting the Pakistani teams at the embassy before they departed for Paris.

He emphasized that participation in the Olympic Games, as envisioned by Pierre de Coubertin, is about more than just winning; it is about taking part, pushing boundaries, and giving one’s best effort. Both Arshad and Haider not only competed but excelled, earning respect and admiration from both their country and the global community.

The Ambassador also acknowledged the immense personal sacrifices athletes make, often training in isolation with little support beyond their families, friends, and coaches. He praised all Pakistani athletes for their perseverance and dedication, highlighting the once-in-a-lifetime experience they shared with fellow athletes from around the world during the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Additionally, the Ambassador commended the significant role of the Paralympic Games in showcasing the talents of athletes who have faced physical challenges. He pointed out that many Paralympians, including Haider Ali, do not seek to be seen as heroes but as competitors who demonstrate that neither genetics nor life’s hardships can stop anyone from achieving greatness. Their accomplishments have had a profound impact, not only globally but also in raising awareness in Pakistan about the capabilities of differently-abled athletes.

Galey further lauded the efforts of the Right to Play association, which brought eight young Pakistanis to France, giving them the chance to attend the Olympic Games’ opening ceremony. He expressed gratitude to Ali Khayam and the team for their dedication to using sports as a tool for social inclusion, particularly for young girls. In this spirit, the Embassy is collaborating with Right to Play to organize a women’s basketball tournament in the coming month.

Turning to France’s own success in the Games, the Ambassador expressed pride in his country’s performance, with French athletes securing a total of 64 medals, including 16 gold, at the Olympics, and 75 medals, including 19 gold, at the Paralympics. He highlighted that the Paris 2024 Games set a record with over 12 million tickets sold, surpassing even the London 2012 Games. A notable milestone was the sale of 263,000 tickets for the Paralympic swimming events, which exceeded the sales for the Olympic swimming events, underscoring the growing popularity of Paralympic sports.

Ambassador Galey’s reception was not only a celebration of the achievements of Arshad Nadeem and Haider Ali but also a testament to the unifying power of sports, the resilience of athletes, and the ever-increasing global appreciation of the Paralympic movement.