Asir Sports Media Forum: Media disappointment and criticism of the organization
The “Asir Sports Media Forum” concluded amidst a wave of sharp criticism from a number of media professionals and sports experts, who expressed their deep disappointment with the outcomes of the forum hosted by Abha Sports Club. Critics felt the event fell short of expectations and failed to achieve its stated objectives, particularly regarding the absence of key speakers and the weak content presented. This prompted Waleed Al-Raqdi, the media center director at Abha Club, to offer explanations and defend the club's role.
General context and importance of sports media
The organization of such gatherings comes at a time when the sports sector in Saudi Arabia is undergoing a historic transformation, in line with the goals of Vision 2030, which aims to enhance the Kingdom's position as a global sports destination. With the significant development of the Saudi Professional League and its attraction of international stars, the importance of sports media as a key partner in this system has increased. It plays a pivotal role in professional coverage, objective analysis, and strengthening communication between clubs and their fans. Therefore, hopes were high that the Asir Forum would serve as an effective regional platform for exchanging expertise, discussing challenges, and developing the skills of media professionals in a dynamic region that includes prominent clubs such as Abha and Damac.
Details of the criticisms and disappointment
The media criticism focused on several key points. Both journalists, Hassan Al-Qubaisi and Abdulrahman Abu Mahrous, agreed that the idea behind the forum was positive and a commendable initiative, but its implementation faltered. Al-Qubaisi explained that invitations indicated the participation of media center representatives from clubs in the region, but attendance was limited to the media center director of the host club, thus depriving the forum of a valuable opportunity to exchange diverse experiences and expertise. For his part, Abu Mahrous added that the forum lacked specialized workshops and the participation of veteran media figures. He also criticized the limited space allocated for discussion and the unsuitable venue.
For his part, journalist Hussein Al-Shujaa expressed his regret that the forum failed to produce any practical initiatives or steps to directly benefit sports media in Asir. Journalist Saeed Al-Hatlaa was even more critical, noting that the forum lacked any meaningful discussions and merely became a platform to talk about Abha Club and its promotion, without addressing the role of other clubs. Al-Hatlaa also criticized the lack of professionalism in the organization and questioned why journalists were not invited to attend the team's training sessions to stay informed about the latest developments.
Abha Club's defense and clarification of responsibilities
In response to these criticisms, Waleed Al-Raqdi, director of the media center at Abha Club, defended the club's position, explaining that their role was limited to hosting and providing the venue. Al-Raqdi emphasized that the organizational aspects and the forum's program were the responsibility of an organizing body and other volunteers. He added, "All media professionals are valued and respected, and we are always honored to host them," pledging to convey all feedback to the forum organizers to address any shortcomings and improve future editions of the event.
Expected impact and the importance of learning from mistakes
This incident highlights the importance of meticulous planning and professional organization of media events. The failure of a forum of this scale to achieve its objectives not only represents a missed opportunity for the development of sports media in the Asir region, but it could also negatively impact the credibility of similar initiatives in the future. The success of the Saudi sports scene depends heavily on the integration of roles among all its components, including the media, which needs genuine and enriching platforms for professional development and constructive dialogue, rather than superficial events that offer no real added value.
