Sports

Relay Race at the Pine Palace in Beirut

Relay Race at the Pine Palace in Beirut

The French Embassy organized a relay race in the courtyard of the Pine Palace today, Friday, in Beirut, as part of a race launched by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the organizing committee for the Olympics worldwide (128 countries) in collaboration with French embassies around the world. The French Ambassador Anne Grillo participated in the race, which was attended by the President of the Olympic Committee Pierre Jalakh, embassy officials, international shooter Ray Bassil, former captain of the Lebanese men's basketball team Eli Rustom, athlete Mark Anthony Ibrahim, runner Serena Hayek, Paralympic cyclists Rita Saadeh and Jad Yazbek, and over 200 students from 18 Francophone educational institutions along with their directors and teachers, alongside a large crowd of media personnel.

During the race, Ambassador Grillo delivered a speech welcoming the attendees, noting that France is intensively preparing to host the Paris Olympics in 2024. She also mentioned that the relay race in Lebanon, which takes place in collaboration with "Sports Academy School," is part of an international event organized across five continents. Eighteen Francophone educational institutions from all regions of Lebanon are participating. Grillo encouraged the students to hold on to their dreams, expressing confidence that the situation in Lebanon will improve and wishing success for the Lebanese volunteers who will participate in organizing the upcoming Olympics.

On his part, Olympic Committee President Jalakh praised the symbolic significance of the relay race, thanking Grillo for her invitation and noting that the race holds multiple sporting and youth-related meanings. The race proceeded after a warm-up session, and following its conclusion, a ceremony was held to award the winning teams by Grillo and Jalakh in a celebratory atmosphere.

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