Dr. Ashraf Sobhi in a new international position at UNESCO to support sports and sustainable development
Dr. Ashraf Sobhi in a new international position at UNESCO to support sports and sustainable development
In recent years, Egypt has been working to consolidate its regional and international role and position and enhance its power as a key and influential player on the global political playing field. These tireless efforts have borne fruit with Egypt winning many important international and international positions on the world stage. These serious efforts have culminated in the announcement of a new achievement added to the record of Egyptian leadership with the election of Dr. Ashraf Sobhi as Chairman of the Intergovernmental Committee for Physical Education and Sports (CIGEPS) of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
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The selection of the Egyptian Minister of Youth and Sports confirms international confidence in Egypt’s pivotal role in shaping the future of global sports policies, and is an unprecedented step that places Egypt in a leadership position within the most important international platform specialized in sports policies and enables it to lead international efforts to promote inclusive sports, support developing countries, and develop physical education systems to achieve sustainable development, peace and social inclusion.
The election of Dr. Ashraf Sobhi by unanimous vote
At the official meeting held in Paris at the organization’s headquarters, representatives of member states in the elected executive office of the Committee were present, and from the Egyptian side, Ambassador Tarek Dahrouj, Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt to Paris and Head of the Permanent Mission to UNESCO, was present.
Ambassador Tariq Dahrouj participated in the voting and official procedures for approving the election of Dr. Ashraf Sobhi as Chairman of the Committee by unanimous vote, thus becoming the first Egyptian to hold this prominent international position.
The importance of this position is that it is the highest international position for sports in the United Nations system, responsible for leading the formulation and direction of sports policies at the international level, including promoting sport as a tool for sustainable development.
In addition to supporting inclusion and comprehensiveness in sports, education, and physical education, it is also concerned with developing international standards and government policies, and coordinating cooperation between member states and international organizations.
Dr. Ashraf Sobhi thanks the officials
Dr. Ashraf Sobhi was keen to express his sincere gratitude and appreciation to the international trust that granted him this position, and he also thanked His Excellency President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi for his constant support for youth and sports work and enabling Egypt to play leadership roles at the international level.
The Minister also thanked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Immigration and Egyptian Affairs Abroad for the great efforts made by the two work teams in cooperating with the Ministry of Youth and Sports during the last period, which contributed to achieving this historic victory for Egypt.
Intergovernmental Committee for Physical Education and Sport
(CIGEPS) is a practical platform for dialogue and cooperation between governments and the sports movement that includes 18 member states elected according to the system of six geographical groups approved within UNESCO, with each group representing 3 countries, and Egypt headed the group of Arab countries.
One of the committee’s tasks is to provide advice to UNESCO on the development and implementation of its programs in the field of physical education and sport, in accordance with a specific policy aimed at using sport to achieve sustainable development and peace.
It carries out its tasks by focusing on several main axes, most notably: working to use sport to achieve socially and environmentally Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through social inclusion, gender equality, poverty alleviation, and applying environmental standards in organizing major sporting events and building facilities. It also supports international efforts to preserve the integrity of sport and combat match-fixing and corruption.
UNESCO: We value the cooperative relationship with the Ministry of Youth and Sports
UNESCO appreciates the role of the Egyptian Ministry of Youth and Sports as an active and pivotal partner in supporting ongoing efforts to promote youth participation, sports, healthy lifestyles, inclusion and development throughout Egypt and the region.
We also expect a very great success for Dr. Ashraf Sobhi during his presidential term, based on his efforts to enhance the committee’s position globally by linking sport to sustainable development and world peace.
In conclusion, Dr. Ashraf Sobhi’s victory to chair the Intergovernmental Committee for Physical Education and Sport at UNESCO represents a diplomatic achievement and an extension of the Egyptian state’s approach in recent years to consolidate its presence in international decision-making institutions, especially in files that have become at the heart of the global agenda such as sports, sustainable development, and social inclusion.
Therefore,The Earth Guards Foundation believes that cooperation between the Ministry of Youth and Sports and international organizations contributes to integrating Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with youth and sports activities to enable future generations to lead climate action, which reflects Egypt’s commitment to achieving sustainable development through sports.
