President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi emphasized importance of focusing on youth and raising awareness among Egyptian people across various games of necessity of disseminating culture of sports.
President Sisi accentuated need to take all necessary actions to elevate youth and sports activities to highest levels in line with a scientific approach, with a view to ensuring a return on investment in human capital.
All drives, the president pointed out, would contribute to development, achieving comprehensive and healthy growth for the youth, preserving public health through the practice of sports and physical activities.
During a meeting Thursday with Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouli, Minister of Youth and Sports Ashraf Sobhi, Presidential Advisor for Financial Affairs Ahmed el-Shazly, head of the Financial Affairs Authority of the Armed Forces Khaled Ahmed Abdallah and head of the Engineering Authority of the Armed Forces Walid Mohamed Aref, the president underscored significance of embedding sports as a culture and lifestyle among Egyptians, according Presidential Spokesperson Mohamed el-Shenawy.
The meeting tackled an array of topics related to Egypt’s youth and sports systems, said the spokesman.
The minister of youth and sports reviewed efforts and programs for the care and development of the youth and sports, he added.
Sobhi mentioned that between 2018 and 2025, 532 programs and activities for youth development were implemented, benefiting approximately 24 million young people. Additionally, 1,150 programs and activities for young adults reached 70 million people, and 928 sports programs benefited 19 million athletes, the spokesman said.
In this context, the minister also presented the integrated approach for youth and sports development in Egypt, including through sports federations, youth camps, sports clubs and other youth innovation centers, development centers and community youth centers, Shenawy added.
The spokesperson said, the minister also highlighted efforts to develop youth centers to serve young people in various areas, including sports empowerment, community awareness, and knowledge in fields like health, economy, culture, science, digital literacy, and political engagement, as well as community service and human development.
Meantime, Sobhi discussed the ministry’s efforts to push the youth and sports system forward in cooperation with the private sector, he said.
The minister noted that sports contributed 1.34% to Egypt’s Gross Domestic Product and the investment returns from collaboration with the private sector in the youth and sports sector amounted to EGP 34 billion between 2018 and 2025, said the spokesman. There are currently 548 active sports service companies in the country, he added.
Sobhi also touched upon the development of existing sports medicine centers, youth and sports infrastructure, mentioning that between 2018 and 2025, 1,028 youth centers were established as part of the “Haya Karima” (Decent Life) initiative, according to the spokesman.
The minister presented developments in the creation of youth development centers, youth cities, sports field upgrades, and the establishment of new sports clubs in various governorates, Shenawi said.
Meantime, Sobhi referred to the progress of the national camp project in the various governorates, aiming to implement integrated programs for youth development, facilitate sports activities to maintain health, and build individuals, he added.
The programs target different social classes, including those in international schools and sports club members, according to Sobhi.
The spokesperson noted that the meeting also discussed institutional and legislative development in the youth and sports system, including the development of the organizational structure of the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
The minister of sports pointed out to measures taken to implement the National Youth and Sports Strategy for 2025-2032, to further press ahead with ongoing efforts to improve Egypt’s performance in international indicators in this field, noted the spokesman.
