Syrian President Bashar Assad and his wi

Syrian President Bashar Assad and his wife Asma visit a group of young athletes of special needs gathered at a hotel in Damascus late on September 5, 2010, ahead of the opening of the annual Middle East and North Africa Special Needs Olympics later this month. Participants from 23 countries, including Iran, will take part in the one-week tournament first launched in 1993 as of September 25, 2010. AFP PHOTO/ LOUAI BESHARA (Photo credit should read LOUAI BESHARA/AFP/Getty Images)