By: Nabila Essam

On Saturday, Dr. Ashraf Sobhy, Minister of Youth and Sports, witnessed the events of the First International Swimming Conference, which aims to discuss and address ways to develop Egyptian swimming and reach the highest levels, in preparation for the 2024 and 2028 Olympics.

The conference events were attended by Captain Hussein Al-Musallam, President of the International Swimming Federation, Dr. Hassan Mostafa, President of the International Handball Federation, Mr. Mustafa Braf, President of the African Olympic Committees "ANOCA", Engineer Hisham Hatab, President of the Egyptian Olympic Committee, Wissam Ram Sam, President of the African Swimming Confederation, Engineer Yasser Idris, president of the Egyptian Swimming Federation, and a group of clubs' heads, sports federations and Olympic players in international and Egyptian swimming.

In his speech, the Minister of Youth and Sports said: "All thanks and appreciation to the Egyptian Swimming Federation for the idea, which is occurring for the first time in order to develop the Egyptian swimming sport, and we appreciate and value the presence of the international Olympic players and all the heads of clubs and sports federations and officials in the various sports sectors, led by the President of the International Federation For swimming Captain Pilot Hussain Al-Muslim and Mr. Mustafa Braf, President of the African Olympic Committees.

The Minister of Youth and Sports explained that the Egyptian state pays attention to supporting and developing Egyptian swimming by paying attention to the visions and future plans that support the development of swimming in preparation for the Olympics, calling on the Egyptian swimming players to make more effort to reach the bigger dream, which is the Olympics 2024, 2028 and to achieve outstanding results and achievements in various forums. This is in conjunction with supporting the policies of the International Swimming Federation in cooperation with the Federation of African National Olympic Committees to develop swimming within the Africa, pointing to the Egyptian state’s readiness to host all international tournaments after the series of successes achieved by Egyptian sport at all global and Olympic levels under the partonage of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and his permanent support for the youth of Egypt in various fields.

Pointing out that Egypt's infrastructure in sports and youth facilities was established at the highest level in accordance with international standards, making the Egyptian state the focus and destination of the International Olympic Committee, and international federations in various individual and team games to support the world championships, which reflects the confidence of the international federations in Egypt and its ability to organize many world championships despite the spread of the Corona pandemic.

The President of the International Swimming Federation, Captain Hussein Al-Musallam, expressed his happiness, saying: "I am happy and proud to be in the Egypt amid this gathering of the heads of Olympic committees, clubs and sports federations, and with the Egyptian government represented by Dr. Ashraf Sobhy," adding that Egypt has a strong infrastructure and has Good cadres and expertise, which made it the world's leading destination for organizing and hosting international sporting events.

Al-Musallam pointed out the direction of the International Swimming Federation to spread and teach swimming in various countries of the world, including the countries of the African continent, in cooperation with national federations, and the establishment of game development centers affiliated with the International Federation within African countries through cooperation protocols with ANOCA.