In a move reflecting the great confidence in Saudi competencies and their leading role in the regional sports scene, the General Assembly of the Arab Sports Press Union elected, yesterday (Wednesday), Dr. Turki Al-Awad from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as President of the Arab Sports Press Union by acclamation, to lead the Arab sports media for the next four years.
Formation of the new executive office
The elections, held in a democratic atmosphere, witnessed broad consensus among member states, resulting in the selection of prominent media figures to lead the next phase. Qatari journalist Ali Issa was elected Vice President for Asia, and Hassan Khalafallah from Egypt was elected Vice President for Africa. Furthermore, Dr. Hadi Abdullah and Badr Al-Din Al-Idrisi were chosen as Vice Presidents of the Union, thus strengthening geographical representation and diverse expertise within the Council.
The list of members of the Executive Office also included a selection of Arab media professionals, namely: Mohamed Ould El Hassan (Mauritania), Mazen Al-Rayes (Syria), Rashid Nassar (Lebanon), Adel Al-Balushi (Sultanate of Oman), Issa Shuraida (Bahrain), and Yasser Ayes (Sudan).
The importance of timing and location
This important General Assembly meeting was held in Doha, the capital of Qatar, on the sidelines of the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025. The timing of the meeting, coinciding with this major football event, carries profound significance, underscoring the close link between major sporting events and sports media, which is a key partner in conveying the image and events to the public. The meeting was characterized by an atmosphere of camaraderie, consensus, and fair competition, reflecting a shared desire to develop the sports journalism system.
Implications of Saudi Arabia's victory in the presidential election
The election of Dr. Turki Al-Awad as president of the federation coincides with the significant sporting development taking place in Saudi Arabia and underscores its pivotal role in leading the sports and media landscape in the region. The new board is expected to develop strategies that keep pace with the rapid evolution of digital media, enhance training and development programs for young sports journalists in the Arab world, and unify sports media discourse to serve common Arab causes and reject fanaticism.
The future of Arab sports media
The Arab Sports Press Union, in its new term, faces numerous challenges and opportunities, most notably how to leverage modern technology in sports coverage, protect journalists' rights, and strengthen partnerships with international and continental sports federations. The Arab media community places great hope in this new leadership to bring about a qualitative leap that will restore the prominence and effective influence of Arab sports journalism.
