The importance of sports in enhancing and further developing relations among the peoples of the countries of the Mediterranean basin was highlighted by speakers during an international seminar on the role of regional news agencies in promoting sports in the Mediterranean region, that took place on Tuesday, May 31, in Oran, Algeria, that will host, from June 25 to July 5, the 19th Mediterranean Games, with the participation of athletes from 26 countries.
The seminar was hosted, in view of the Mediterranean Games, by the Algeria Press Service (APS), in coordination with the Alliance of Mediterranean News Agencies (AMAN) and in collaboration with the Organizing Committee of the Mediterranean Games, and took place under the patronage of the Minister of Communication of Algeria, Mohamed Bouslimani. Journalists and other representatives by 10 news agencies members of AMAN, including the Cyprus News Agency (CNA), participated in the seminar.
The Algerian Minister of Communications said in his speech during the opening of the seminar that sports remain a key topic of cooperation among the news agencies of the Mediterranean, given the fact that they are a major attraction to the youth that make up most of the population of both the eastern and the southern coasts of the Mediterranean region, while nowadays sports are also attracting an even wider audience, spanning more age groups.
“This is why the Mediterranean media are directly concerned by the promotion of sports in society, not only to encourage ordinary people to be healthier and physically fit and athletes to earn titles, but also to contribute to bringing nations close in the service of the culture of peace, tolerance, and solidarity, within the framework of human rights that need to be respected as a whole,” he added.
He expressed strong support to AMAN and everything that strengthens its competitiveness, both on a regional and international level, to guarantee a good news coverage and record for history all the wins and achievements realized during sporting events especially via the various electronic media.
In his welcoming speech, APS Director General and President of AMAN, Samir Gaid, said that sport has always contributed to bringing people closer, as is the case with the Mediterranean Games, which will see the participation of about 4500 athletes from both sides of the Mediterranean, competing in more than 20 sporting events.
Moreover, he noted that this event will be an opportunity “for us to work alongside other reporters and exchange experiences with journalists of other news agencies that are the first source of information for all the other media be they print, audiovisual or electronic.”
AMAN Secretary General, former CNA Director, George Penintaex, said in his speech that the APS is very active and one of the leading news agencies in AMAN, “believing in the spirit and practice of cooperation among the news agencies in the Mediterranean, our common sea.”
Furthemore, he said that from his long experience in the AMAN business he has realized that APS believes in the values and rapprochement between the northern and southern shores of the Mediterranean, between the rich and the poor agencies, between the advanced and the less advanced news agencies, and congratulated the APS for hosting the seminar, as well as the Minister of Communication of Algeria for placing it under his patronage.
Commissioner of the Mediterranean Games Oran2022, Mohamed Aziz Derouaz, expressed in his speech gratitude for the contribution of the news agencies of the Mediterranean in making the 19th Mediterranean Games successful, and underlined their significant role for the coverage of the event.
Oran Governor, Said Saayoud, said in his speech that this seminar is very important for the successful outcome of the Mediterranean Games in the second biggest town of Algeria.
During the seminar, presentations were made by representatives of participating news agencies and of the Press Committee for the Mediterranean Games Oran2022.
Later on the participant representatives of the news agencies of the Mediterranean were given a guided tour of the Mediterranean Games sports complex and the Mediterranean Village, that will host the athletes and other members of the delegations of the participating countries.
Source: Cyprus News Agency