During an Expanded Meeting, Minister of Sports and President of the Olympic Committee Meet with Heads of Sports Federations to Discuss Future Work Plans
Dr. Ashraf Sobhy, Minister of Youth and Sports, and Engineer Yasser Idris, President of the Egyptian Olympic Committee, held an expanded meeting with the heads of Olympic sports federations to review the latest developments in their work plans for the upcoming period. They also assessed preparation efforts for the forthcoming Olympic Games and discussed several organizational and legislative matters concerning Egypt's sports sector.
The Minister began by congratulating the Olympic Committee on its new formation, emphasizing that the next phase will witness intensified efforts and development within the sports ecosystem. He noted that Egypt has positioned itself as a global sports destination, aligned with the directives of His Excellency President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, President of the Republic.
Dr. Sobhy highlighted that Egypt successfully hosted more than 430 international championships in recent years. He reaffirmed his full support for all federations and commended the collaborative spirit that unites them under one banner in support of the nation.
He stressed the importance of institutional work founded on strategic planning and a clear vision. Dr. Sobhy pointed out that since 2018, the Ministry has been building a sustainable system to advance Egyptian sports in preparation for future Olympic participation. Sixteen sports federations have already completed their technical preparation plans, while the remaining federations are in the process of finalizing theirs. The Minister underlined that participation in the next Olympic Games will be reserved for athletes with genuine prospects of winning medals, rather than participating solely for honorable representation.
Regarding legislative reforms, Dr. Sobhy confirmed that efforts to amend the Sports Law began in 2019, in collaboration with the Youth and Sports Committee of the House of Representatives, through over 50 dialogue sessions. The proposed amendments aim to balance respect for international charters with safeguarding the rights of sports institutions, including federations and clubs. The amendments were developed with the active involvement of the head of the Ministry's sports sector and members of the Athletes Committee.
He also referenced an ongoing review of the eight-year term limit clause in accordance with international standards, alongside initiatives to introduce genuine guarantees for attracting sports investments and enhancing financial transparency.
The Minister reviewed a series of notable achievements by various federations, particularly praising the accomplishments of the Gymnastics Federation under Dr. Ehab Amin, as well as the Modern Pentathlon and Weightlifting Federations. He highlighted continuous efforts to support athletes and maintain their performance levels despite prevailing challenges. Dr. Sobhy further affirmed Egypt's intention to host the 2027 African Games, marking more than 30 years since the last time Egypt hosted the event, capitalizing on the world-class sports infrastructure the country now possesses.