With just two weeks until the Paris 2024 Olympics, Egyptians are debating the decision to select Shahd Saeed as a competitor after she collided with teammate Ganna Eliwa during a race.
In April, Eliwa, 19, suffered a concussion, a broken collarbone, and severe injuries when Saeed, also 19, swerved and forced her into a cement barrier just 300 meters from the finish line. Saeed claimed it was an accident, but Eliwa said she never apologized.
Despite being suspended for a year and fined $100 by the Egyptian Cycling Federation, Saeed was still chosen for the Olympics, sparking public outrage.
Many Egyptians flooded the federation’s Facebook page, demanding her removal. Eliwa, appearing on talk shows, wished Saeed bad luck, saying she hoped Saeed would come last in Paris.
The president of the Egyptian Cycling Federation defended Saeed’s inclusion, citing the benefit to Egypt and the impossibility of replacing her at this stage.
Critics compared Saeed to the 1984 Olympian Mohammed Ali Rashwan, who valued fair play over winning. They argued Saeed’s actions violated Olympic values of excellence, respect, and friendship.
In response to the backlash, the sports ministry asked the Egyptian Olympic Committee to review Saeed’s participation according to international standards and ethics.
Saeed reiterated that the incident was not intentional and questioned the timing of the criticism.
Cycling isn’t widely popular in Egypt, but President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi often promotes it, leading large cycling rallies in Cairo.
Source: BBC
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clwynzgxvzzo