Queens

Did you know- Several centuries ago, Egypt was different to most other countries of the world: The country had been ruled by women, among them Cleopatra and Hatshepsut. Certainly under the leadership of both women, Egypt became one of the world’s most important civilizations, alongside other cultures like Greece and China, as well as Rome and Persia. Since then, Cleopatra and Hatshepsut were the first female leaders on Earth. Ironically, modern-Egypt does not have a female leader as yet.

Giza

Did you know- Apart from the Pyramids, Cairo, and Alexandria, Egypt has other universal wonder: Giza, which is the oldest city on the Planet.

People

Did you know- Egypt is home to about 83 million of people; It is one of the top 15 most populated countries of the world, ahead of Germany and Turkey.

Nobel Prize for Literature

Did you know- In the latter half of the 20^th century, Egypt was one of the first African nations to win a Nobel Prize, along with South Africa and Nigeria. On December 10,1988, Naguib Mahfouz, the country’s most popular author, pulled off a major shock when he earned the Nobel Prize in Literature; Egypt’s writer Mahfouz had defeated famous novelists, including Mario Vargas Llosa (Peru/Spain) and Kenzaburo Oe (Japan), as well as Octavio Paz (Mexico) and Vidiadhar Surajprasad Naipaul (Trinidad & Tobago). No other Arab writer had ever won the Swedish award.

United Nations

Did you know- By the end of 1945, Egypt became member of the United Nations

The Pyramids of Egypt

Did you know- The Pyramids of Egypt, unique among world wonders, are the only surviving ancient Wonder. But there’s more! This treasure, of course, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site as well. Each year, millions of visitors, from Brazil and Japan to New York and Finland, came to see this symbol of Egypt around the world. The Pyramids were designed between c 2700 and 2500 BC.

1965 African Games

Did you know- The national team, they competed under the named of the United Arab Republic, picked up a total of 30 medals (17 gold, 10 silver, 3 bronze) and finished first in the medal count at the I African Games in Congo-Brazzaville.

Egypt & Miss World

Did you know- Astonishingly, Egypt was the third country in the world to win the Miss World Pageant in 1954, after Sweden (1951 & 1952) and France (1953). In addition, it became the first and only Arab country to receive a Miss World title. Egypt’s Miss World Antigone Constanda was also the first African woman to win a global beauty contest. Curiously, the beauty contests are not allowed to held in several Arab countries, from Sudan and Iran to Kuwait. Since Constanda’s win, no other Egyptian has been semi-finalist.

Famous Visitors

Did you know- In recent decades, Egypt has been visited by famous leaders, among them Bill Clinton (America’s President), Gro Harlem Brundtland (Norway’s Head of Government), Boris Yeltsin (Russia’s President), and Shimon Peres (Israel’s Prime Minister).

Anwar Sadat

Did you know- The country’s former Head of State Anwar Sadat was always seen as someone who could improve the relations between Israel and the Arab states. By the end of 1978, he lived up to his reputation as one of the most respected peaceful leaders in the Third World when he received the Nobel Prize in Peace for his dedication to peace and reconciliation in the Middle East, a zone plagued by conflicts and wars. The following year, On March 26, 1979, Mr. Sadat and Israel’s Prime Minister Menachen Begin made history when both signed a formal peace treaty. At the same time, Mr. Sadat established diplomatic ties with Israel.

World-Famous Individuals

Did you know- By the end of 1991, Boutros Boutros-Ghali was named Secretary General of the United Nations; the first African/Arab to hold that position.

Farid Simaika

Did you know- Egypt’s swimmer Farid Simaika earned a silver medal in platform diving at the 1928 Olympics in the Netherlands. From then onwards, no African diver has won a medal in the Summer Games.

Jehan Sadat

Did you know- Between 1970 and 1981, Jehan Sadat, a champion of women’s rights, became the most powerful First Lady in the Middle East. She certainly changed the course of history for Egypt’s women when she supported the culture, education and other social rights as well. By 1980, Sadat represented Egypt’s regime at the Second World Conference on Women in Copenhagen (Denmark), where was one of the main speakers, along with Valentina Tereshkova, a Soviet cosmonaut. In an interview, she said, “Emancipation of women in Egypt is my beloved thing”. Otherwise, she was the wife of one of the 20th century’s most famous Arab leaders.

Hollywood

Did you know- Egyptian-born Omar Sharif was one of the well-known performers in Hollywood in the 1970s. Born in 1932 into a Catholic family in Alexandria, in 2005 Sharif lived up to his reputation as “one of the most notable actors” when the UNESCO bestowed him with a medal.

Sports

Did you know- The handball national team reached the fame when they won the Junior World Championship in 1993,ahead of some of the world’s top teams, among them Denmark and Russia. This Olympic sport is one of the most popular in the country.

Alejandro Guevara Onofre: Freelance writer. Alejandro is of Italian, African and Peruvian ancestry. He has published a host of articles on world issues, olympic sports, countries, and tourism. His next essay is called “The Dictator and Alicia Alonso”. He is an expert on foreign affairs. Alejandro is the first author who has published a world-book encyclopedia in Latin America.

He admires Frida Kahlo (Mexican painter), Jose Gamarra (former president of the Bolivian Olympic Committee,1970- 1982), Hillary Clinton (ex-First Lady of the USA), and Jimmy Carter (former President of the USA). Alejandro said: “The person who I admire the most is Jose Gamarra. He devoted his professional and personal life to sport. Jose played an important role in the promotion of Olympism in Bolivia -it is one of the Third World`s poorest countries- and Latin America. His biography is interesting”. The sportspeople he most admire is Olympic volleyball player Flo Hyman. “This African-American sportswoman is my idol… “

olympic diving trials 2008 montage *Knock On Wood*

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