By: Reem Sameh

Dr. Ashraf Sobhy Minister of Youth and Sports, Major General Ahmed Nasser, President of the Association of African Sports Confederations (UCSA) and Dr. Mustafa Berraf, President of the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA), witnessed launching the activities of the International Conference to Combat Sports Corruption in Africa, that will last until December 8 under the patronage of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, President of the Republic.

The conference discussed many aspects in the field of combating forms of corruption in sports institutions in Africa, the influence of the media and the negative public opinions in supporting the phenomenon of sports corruption and the role of society in combating it and consolidating principles and ways of control, in addition to the women and sports in the system of fighting corruption in sports, and a closing session of the conference will be held, during which there will be a presentation of the recommendations that will be submitted to the governments and sports associations in the African countries.

The Minister of Sports assured that Egypt will follow up closely and carefully the results of the conference, adding that the ministry seeks to reach important points that contribute to eliminate sports corruption and provide visions and perceptions to officials in order to combat sports corruption and mechanisms to confront it. Pointing to the Ministry’s support to the conference to ensure its success and achieve its desired goals.

Sobhy pointed out that the African Sports has quickly and impressively improved during the last period. He ended saying that he is pleased that the conference will include many parallel activities, such as announcing the launch of a prize for sports excellence for a group of African sports symbols, in the presence of a number of public figures from different countries.

Major General Ahmed Nasser stressed that the objective of the conference is to combat sports corruption in Africa.

The opening ceremony was attended by Major General Mohamed Nour, Executive Director of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, and the Secretary-General and technical director of UCSA Dr. Emad Al-Benani, in addition to Dr. Ahmed Al-Sheikh, Undersecretary of the Minister's Office Affairs, some African ambassadors participating in the conference, some heads of African federations and a group of public and sports figures.