JEDDAH, 15 March 2006 — Prince Sultan ibn Fahd chaired the 19th annual general assembly meeting of the Arab Sports Federation here on Monday. Improving Arab sports at a higher level was discussed, among other issues.
Prince Sultan, president of both the Arab and Saudi Soccer Federation and chairman of General Presidency of Youth Welfare, was reelected president of the ASF.
His deputy at SFF and Youth Welfare, Prince Nawat ibn Faisal, was appointed deputy-executive.
Prince Talal ibn Bader, president of both the Arab and Saudi Basketball Federation, was named the ASF’s executive office representative.
In addition to previous positions, eight seats for membership were offered though only six were elected to the board namely Sheikh Talal Al-Ahmed (Kuwait) with 17 votes, Ahmed Al-Ferdan (UAE) with 16 votes, Faisal Al-Bisri (Syria) with 15 votes, Abdulhameed Salamah (Tunisia) with 13 votes, General Abdulaal Ibrahim (Sudan) with 12 votes and General Suhail Khouri (Lebanon) with 12 votes. The Kingdom’s Othman Al-Saad was appointed general security, Saleh Al-Ajroush funding general security and Abdulrab Al-Ali general security assistant.
Among the recommendations made during the meeting “was for the Ministers’ Council for Arab Youth Welfare to extend financial support to the ASF,” according to Prince Talal ibn Bader.
General Talaat Harb, president of the Arab Federation for Aerial Sports, told Arab News that the decision to stop the financial support some 10 years ago had been affecting all sports negatively. A budget that ranges anywhere from $15, 000 to $ 20, 000 annually, “would for sure make a difference in what we have at present,” said General Harb adding that aerial sports are costly and thus if such an annual support was given we would be able to develop even more talent.
According to Prince Sultan’s statement, he with the help of the other federation committees will work hard on improving the Arab sports. They will be working on all researches and programs to benefit the Arab sports especially, “what concerns preventing any type of steroids,” he said.
Another recommendation was the importance of having more women at the Arab Federation executive office.
Abdulla Al-Kaabii, minister of Youth Welfare in Tunisia, awarded Prince Sultan a souvenir for his efforts in enhancing the Arab sports. The next general assembly meeting will be held in Hurghada, Egypt.
