Paris: Minister of Youth and Sports Gawhar Nabil said his election as chairman of the Intergovernmental Committee for Physical Education and Sport (CIGEPS), affiliated with UNESCO, reflects international recognition of Egypt's growing role in youth empowerment and sports development and provides an important opportunity to help shape the future of global sports policies.
According to State Information Service Egypt, in an exclusive statement to the Middle East News Agency (MENA) following his election at UNESCO headquarters in Paris, Nabil said Egypt, through its chairmanship of the committee, will lead efforts to develop global standards for inclusive and safe sports.
He added that during his tenure he will support international efforts aimed at advancing sport and physical education as a right for all and as an effective tool for achieving sustainable development, strengthening social cohesion, and promoting the values of peace and understanding among peoples.
The minister explained that the coming period will see the committee lead consultations with member states on the development of global standards for inclusive, equitable, and safe sport and physical education. These standards are intended to help governments formulate more effective policies that ensure equality and expand sporting opportunities for all groups without discrimination.
Nabil highlighted Egypt's particular interest in safe sport, protecting participants in sports activities from all forms of violence and abuse, and promoting the inclusion of persons with disabilities in sport and physical education, in line with international trends and the Sustainable Development Goals.
He added that Egypt's chairmanship of the committee will also seek to strengthen cooperation among governments, international organizations, the private sector, and various partners to secure the resources needed to implement the committee's programs and initiatives and ensure the sustainability of international efforts aimed at expanding the role of sport in development and human empowerment.
The minister stressed that Egypt will draw on its successful experience in youth and sports development to support the committee's work and member states, in line with the Egyptian state's vision of placing human development at the forefront of its priorities under the leadership of President Abdel Fattah El Sisi.
Nabil concluded by emphasizing that sport is a universal language capable of bringing peoples closer together and fostering dialogue and understanding, affirming Egypt's commitment to working with all international partners to build sports systems that are more inclusive, equitable, and safe for current and future generations.
The CIGEPS elected Gawhar Nabil as its chairman on Tuesday during the opening session of the committee's regular meeting at UNESCO headquarters in Paris, attended by UNESCO Director-General Khaled El-Enany. CIGEPS is UNESCO's highest intergovernmental mechanism for sport and physical education within the United Nations system. The committee plays a central role in developing international policies and standards and promoting the contribution of sport to sustainable development, social inclusion, and peacebuilding.