• A specialist in physical edu-cation, and one of its leaders among us.

• One of Lebanon's champions in swimming, weightlifting, marks-manship, and other sports.

• For some twenty years he has held the post of Director of Physical Education at the American University of Beirut.

Q — Which countries, Ustad, occupy at the present time the first place in the world of sport?

A — Until recently the United States occupied this position, but it became clear to us, from what we lately observed of the results of the recent athletic games at Helsinki, that the Soviet Union has outstripped the rest of the civilized nations. England, France, and Switzerland also distinguished themselves... And it is to be noticed that the countries occu-pying the first places in social advancement are for the most part the same ones in the first rank of athletic advancement.

Q — What, Ustad, in your opinion, are the modern sports that suit woman?

A — The modern woman has realized the extent of the benefit of sports and their effect on her beauty; she has excelled in the various games and has practiced them all — even wrestling, for example. In my opinion, woman

would do well to turn away from the rough, harsh games that do not suit her nature, toward tennis, swimming, skiing, basketball, and light, graceful games of that kind.

Q — I notice from my study of history that most famous women and film actresses practiced sports to a considerable degree; is my observation in place?

A — Yes, your observation is in place! There is no doubt that those women, enlightened in their thinking and wide in their reading, realized that in athletic exercise

lies a guarantee of preserving their beauty and of improving that beauty; and so they are forever attending to their bodies with athletic exercise at the swimming pools, on the race courses, and on the snows of the mountains.

Q — And are there kinds of physical sport which woman may not take up, for physiological reasons, for example?

A — I have already given my opin-ion on this subject. All sports, so long as they involve no muscular strain, are suitable for woman; and I prefer for her the games that give her grace and lightness, and keeping away from harsh games like wrestling.

Q — In view of your long experience as Director of Physical Education at the American University of Beirut, do you believe the Lebanese girl keeps pace with the Western girl and can compete with her in the arts of physical sport?