The Arab Athletics Federation announced the completion of all preparations in Tunisia for the 21st Arab Athletics Championships for Juniors and Cadets (under 20 years old), scheduled to take place from April 26 to 30. This announcement followed the sixth and final coordination meeting between federation officials and the championship's organizing committee, where all organizational, technical, and administrative aspects were reviewed, and final touches were put in place to ensure an exceptional edition befitting the status of athletics in the Arab world and meeting the aspirations of the Arab athletics community.
Historical context and renewed importance
The Arab Athletics Championships are a cornerstone of the regional sporting calendar, with the first senior edition held in Damascus in 1977. Since then, the championships have become a key platform for discovering and developing Arab talent that has gone on to achieve international success. The youth and junior editions are of particular importance as they serve as the primary feeder system for national teams, providing promising athletes with the opportunity to gain experience and compete at a high level early in their careers. Tunisia has a proven track record of hosting major sporting events, including previous editions of this championship, which reinforces confidence in its ability to organize a resounding success.
The impact of the event and its various dimensions
The championship is expected to have a multifaceted positive impact. Locally, hosting this event will contribute to boosting sports tourism and strengthening the infrastructure of sports facilities in Tunisia. Regionally, the championship serves as a meeting point for Arab nations, strengthening bonds of brotherhood and cooperation between national federations and opening avenues for the exchange of technical and administrative expertise. Internationally, the championship represents an important qualifying stage for many participating athletes to compete in upcoming world and continental championships, and it also highlights the level of development of athletics in the Arab region.
Wide participation and high expectations
The championship will see the participation of 15 Arab countries: Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, Sudan, Algeria, Egypt, Lebanon, Palestine, Morocco, Libya, and Yemen, in addition to Tunisia, the host country. Participating delegations are expected to begin arriving on Thursday, with the Saudi and Qatari delegations being among the first to arrive. In this context, Brigadier General Ali Ibrahim Al-Sheikhi, President of the Arab Athletics Federation, expressed his pride in hosting the championship, emphasizing that it is a unique sporting event that transcends the competition for medals, becoming a noble humanitarian message that promotes the values of peace and communication between peoples, and reinforces the principles of discipline and teamwork.
Developing technical and refereeing staff
In addition to the sporting competitions, the championship will feature several high-quality development programs aimed at enhancing the skills of Arab personnel. These programs include a training course for coaches, conducted in cooperation with the Tunisian Anti-Doping Association, from which participants will receive certificates accredited by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF). A workshop for referees, led by an international instructor, will also be held. This strategic step aims to develop technical expertise and strengthen standards of integrity and transparency in competition management, ensuring the continued development of Arab athletics at all levels.
