NNA - The French Institute in Beirut on Wednesday hosted a celebratory event at the French Consulate garden to honor the Lebanese volunteers participating in the upcoming Summer and Paralympic Games in Paris.

The Olympics will run from July 26 to August 11, followed by the Paralympics from August 28 to September 8.

Attendees included French Ambassador to Lebanon Hervé Magro, Lebanese Olympic Committee President Pierre Jalakh, Dr. Raja Labaki representing the Minister of Youth and Sports in the caretaker government Dr. George Kallas, and Director of Sports Academy School Dr. George Assaf.

The event was also attended by embassy officials, French Institute members, volunteers, their families, Lebanese sports champions, and media representatives.

Ambassador Magro welcomed the attendees, highlighting the countdown to the Paris 2024 Olympics and expressing delight at the participation of over twenty Lebanese volunteers. He announced that sixteen Lebanese firefighters, who aided in extinguishing fires following the August 4, 2020 explosion, would attend the Olympic events.

Magro praised the volunteers for their two years of preparation, congratulating them on their success and recognizing their role as ambassadors of Lebanon. He also thanked the Sports Academy School, France Volontaire, and the Lebanese and French Olympic committees for their support.

The event concluded with the distribution of certificates to the volunteers amid a festive atmosphere.

================R.H.