Egypt’s Minister of Youth and Sports Ashraf Sobhi has outlined the main facets of the government’s strategic vision for developing youth and sports sectors. The minister also shed light on ongoing efforts to support grassroots clubs, nurture elite athletes and implement comprehensive initiatives nationwide.
In a wide-ranging interview with Al-Ahram Weekly, Sobhi also addressed several pressing issues, including Zamalek Club’s land dispute, the sustainability of project financing, and the expansion of partnerships between the public and private sectors.
Regarding the Zamalek Club land dispute, Sobhi said that the issue is “a legal matter between the club and the rightful authority, which in this case is the Ministry of Housing and Urban Communities”. He said the club had to “submit its official documents demonstrating its rights, including progress percentages and actual achievements on the ground, alongside all administrative and financial records that prove the club’s entitlement.”
The dispute emerged after the Housing Ministry withdrew a plot of land last month — allocated to the club in 6 October city — due to a lack of construction. The land was granted in 2003. The club views the land as crucial for its financial stability.
On hosting international tournaments, the minister highlighted Egypt’s emergence as a key destination on the global sports map. “We have held over 440 international and African championships in six years,” he stated, adding that preparations are underway to host the African Hockey Championship and the Handball Club World Championship in September, as well as the FIFA World Cup qualifiers. He confirmed that Egypt had organised over 600 major sporting events in recent years, “reflecting the high level of confidence that the international sports community places in the country.”
Concerning the ministry’s plans to update or amend laws governing the youth and sports sectors, the minister said no new laws had been updated “because we already have the Youth Bodies Law which was discussed in 2020 and which contributed to developing youth and development centres.” He noted that the ministry is currently reviewing executive decisions during the transitional phase between the previous and current laws, “aiming to enhance transparency, governance, and support for sports investment.” He pointed out that infrastructure development had witnessed unprecedented progress, with investments exceeding LE22 billion from 2014 to 2023. This included the construction and upgrading of 4,295 sports fields, 12 youth and sports cities, the refurbishment of six major stadiums, the establishment of 14 indoor halls, and 14 sports clubs.
Amid global economic challenges, the minister discussed the ministry’s approach to maintaining sustainable project funding. “We manage assets effectively and engage in economic systems with the private sector, including usufruct arrangements,” he said. “We have established a robust social system that greatly assists us in securing project funding, alongside the ministry’s budgets and various revenue streams. Our budget depends on regular government allocation as well as other diverse resources we can mobilise.”
On the ministry’s role in supporting popular clubs amid the financial dominance of corporate clubs, Sobhi underscored that popular clubs “represent a vital pillar of Egypt’s sports fabric. We support them through infrastructure development programmes, financial aid and facilitating sponsorship and investment opportunities.” He affirmed that many of these clubs benefited from development projects under the first phase of the Decent Life initiative, which covered more than 1,039 youth centres, alongside their inclusion in sports investment programmes “to ensure competitiveness against corporate clubs”.
Discussing plans to enhance partnerships with the private sector in managing and developing sports facilities, the minister highlighted the importance of private sector involvement. “We believe in the significance of private sector partnerships in supporting and advancing the sports system,” he said. “We always operate through mechanisms that allow us to benefit from the private sector’s expertise in management and operation. Build-Operate-Transfer [BOT] project investments have reached around LE9 billion in youth centres and clubs across various governorates, without imposing any financial burden on the ministry’s budget.”
“These projects are the cornerstone for establishing a robust infrastructure for youth centres by providing diverse sports services to children and youth. The ministry receives 25 per cent of usufruct revenues from these projects, which are reinvested in developing youth centres in villages and less attractive investment areas, while 75 per cent of revenues goes directly to youth centres as a self-financing source to implement various sports activities, without requiring ministry support.” He also noted that private sector investments in fitness has reached LE7 billion.
On the recently launched 30-Day Challenge initiative, the minister said the project has received “a strong response across various governorates”. He said it aligns with President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi’s directives to promote and spread sports throughout Egyptian cities and aims “to make sports a lifestyle and culture in every Egyptian household”. The project allows participants to register in categories including running, walking, and cycling, and a special category for persons with disabilities, granting them the flexibility to choose the time and place for their activities.
The challenge, organised by the ministry, aims at encouraging all family members to play games and practise sports anywhere they choose.
On the possibility of reviving the Ironman competition in Egypt, a renowned series of unique physical challenges combining swimming, cycling, and running and is considered one of the world’s premier endurance competitions, Sobhi affirmed the ministry welcomes hosting such global events. “We welcome hosting any championships or competitions like Ironman,” he said, “especially after Egypt has held more than 440 international and continental championships in recent years, with participation from over 200,000 young men and women representing 100 nationalities, realising over three million sports tourism nights.”
As for programmes supporting and nurturing elite athletes, the minister said there was “significant attention being paid to champions and elite athletes, whether in individual or team sports, through Olympic preparation programmes, financial and moral support, and training camps both inside the country and abroad.” The efforts have resulted in 2,800 international medals for Olympic champions and 584 medals for Paralympic athletes, with 15 athletes leading global rankings.
For individual sports, Sobhi noted that the ministry “focuses on disciplines where Egypt has had major accomplishments, supporting players through sponsorship, training, rewards, integration in insurance and social support programmes, and providing marketing and sponsorship opportunities.” He pointed out that such efforts have helped Egypt top global rankings in four federations and rank in the top 10 out of 11 Olympic sports.
On plans to promote women’s sports, the minister affirmed that the ministry is working to expand the base of female participation in sports through specialised initiatives and encouraging their involvement in sports administration. “The ‘Thousand Girls, Thousand Dreams’ project, which aims to fully support girls aged 9 to 15, training them in sports including football, volleyball, and handball, alongside comprehensive awareness programmes on health and social issues, is building a generation of confident girls capable of facing challenges.”
Regarding the ministry’s strategy towards sports for persons with disabilities and the potential establishment of sports centres dedicated to them, Sobhi said persons with disabilities “are an integral part of the sports system, and we support them through qualified facilities, specialised coaches, and sponsorship of Paralympic teams that have won 584 international medals, in addition to integrating them into general sports events.
“The Ministry of Youth and Sports firmly believes in the rights of persons with disabilities and works on their social inclusion. Therefore, our vision focuses on developing existing youth centres to be inclusive and comprehensive for all categories, including persons with disabilities, rather than segregating them in separate centres. The ministry is upgrading infrastructure and providing necessary accommodations to ensure a safe and enabling environment for them to engage in various sports activities.”
The minister also addressed the ministry’s stance on implementing Financial Fair Play regulations. “The ministry’s vision centres on applying governance standards and financial transparency in the sports sector, aiming to regulate the economic systems of clubs and enhance opportunities for sports investment.” He added that the ministry “monitors this issue closely to ensure balance and fairness among clubs.”
* A version of this article appears in print in the 11 September, 2025 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly
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