By: Nabila Essam

President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi received Thomas Bach, President of the International Olympic Committee, in the presence of Dr. Ashraf Sobhy, Minister of Youth and Sports, Dr. Mustapha Berraf, President of the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA), Dr. Hassan Mostafa, President of the International Handball Federation, and Eng. Hisham Abu Hatab, President Egyptian Olympic Committee. 

The official spokesperson for the Presidency stated that the President welcomed the visit of the President of the International Olympic Committee to Egypt, praising his Excellency the important role of the Committee in promoting interest in sports at the international level, and referring to Egypt’s efforts to develop and modernize the sports infrastructure with all its facilities at the level of the Republic and the construction of the Egyptian City for the Olympic Games in the New Administrative Capital, in addition to what has been done to raise the efficiency of international airports, the transportation network, and the development of roads and axes in Cairo metropolitan area and its surrounding cities, in order to facilitate movement between these facilities, which maximizes Egypt’s capabilities in the sports infrastructure for the benefit of citizens, as well as for hosting major World championships in various games at the highest organizational, administrative and logistical level.

From his side; Mr. Thomas Bach expressed his honor to meet the President, praising the historic Olympic role of Egypt as one of the leading African and Arab countries in various team and individual sports, which is an extension of the Egyptian leadership position in the region at the political, social and cultural levels, in addition to those sports.

The President of the International Olympic Committee also expressed his great admiration for the equipped infrastructure that Egypt has acquired at the highest level, which was reflected in its wonderful organization of many international sporting events recently, especially the 2021 World Handball Championship, which Egypt succeeded in organizing despite the challenges of the Corona pandemic. Which has won wide international acclaim.

The meeting witnessed a discussion of prospects for cooperation between the two sides in Egypt’s hosting of major international sporting events, where the President affirmed Egypt’s readiness to provide various means of support in this regard, while the President of the International Olympic Committee indicated his full confidence in Egypt’s capabilities to carry out this task, explaining in this regard the context is that he visited the Egyptian International Olympic City in the new administrative capital, considering it one of the most important and prominent sports edifices with integrated pillars and services in the Middle East according to the highest international standards, especially with its stadiums and covered halls for various individual and group games, as well as areas various service, medical and hotel facilities, administrative buildings and public squares, which strengthen Egypt's hand to organize major international sports events.