During a telephone interview with the President of the International Paralympics Committee which took place on 3 June 1999, the President affirmed that Morocco was a participating country in the 1996 Games; he was not aware that any participants had not returned to their country after the games and stated that he "would absolutely be aware" had that been the case.

According to the US Disabled Athletes Fund Inc. of which the current President was President and CEO of the Atlanta Paralympic Games in 1996, the Moroccan delegation to the Atlanta Paralympic Games was comprised of the following participants: Khalid Garda, Madani Mardi, El Mesned, Abdellah Moutaoui, Mohamed Quaudbi and Said Touil (4 June 1999). The list provided by the US Disabled Athletes Fund Inc. does not differentiate between the athletes and staff (ibid).

Correspondence from the Media and Communications Manager at the International Paralympic Committee in Bonn, Germany, received on 4 June 1999, lists a delegation of six Moroccans attending the games. The four athletes are Khalid Garda and Said Touil in powerlifting and El Kbir Mesned and Madani Mardi in athletics and two unnamed staff.

On 4 June 1999, the representative of the US Disabled Athletes Fund contacted the Head of Transportation and the Head of Protocol for the Atlanta Paralympic Games in 1996, who are now employed by the US Disabled Athletes Fund Inc. who corroborated the information that all Moroccan participants were accounted for at the time of departure from Atlanta; they have no knowledge of participants having stayed behind. This information was received by the Research Directorate on 4 June 1999.

The Association marocaine des droits humains and the Organisation marocaine des droits de l'homme were both contacted on 4 June 1999 but could not, within time constraints, provide information on whether participants on their country's team did not return from Atlanta.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below a list of additional sources consulted.

The International Paralympics Committee, Bonn. 3 June 1999. Telephone interview with the President.

_____. 4 June 1999. Telephone contact with the Media and Communications Manager.

_____. 4 June 1999. Correspondence received from the Media and Communications Manager.

The US Disabled Athletes Fund Inc. 4 June 1999. Telephone interview with a representative in the office of the President.

_____. 4 June 1999. Correspondence from a representative in the office of the President.

Association marocaine des droits humains, Rabat. 4 June 1999.

Organisation marocaine des droits de l'homme, Rabat. 4 June 1999.

Internet: The Canadian Paralympics Association.

Online: NEXIS, IRB databases