体坛英语新闻：Ghana to promote Paralympic sports

ACCRA, Dec. 2 (Xinhua) -- Ghana will hold its first-ever national Paralympic sports festival in Accra from December 11-13 as part of efforts to promote the sports in the country, a senior official said here on Tuesday.

The festival is aimed at providing an opportunity for sportsmen and women to exhibit their talents while unearthing talents for the various national teams in preparation for the 2016 Olympic Games, said Ignatius Elletey, General Secretary of the Ghana Paralympic Committee.

"The festival will also promote the Paralympic movement in Ghana as well as create awareness on disability and para-sports in Ghana and the need for people to support para-athletes," he said.

Over 200 para-athletes drawn from the ten regions of Ghana, are expected to participate in the three-day event at the Accra Sports Stadium and to compete in athletics, goalball, table tennis, basketball, taekwondo, amputee football, and tennis.

The festival will be under the sponsorship of Agitos Foundation, the technical arm of the International Paralympic Committee, and Ghana's national sports council.

Ghana's disability team has contributed a significant amount of medals to Team Ghana at international games over the years and will be expected to play leading roles in sports in the years ahead.

Some of the country's leading para-athletes are Ajara Mohammed, Anita Fordjour, Alem Mumuni and Botsyo Nkegbe.