KABUL, May 30, 2016 – The AfghanistanSports Journalists Federation (ASJF)’s first ever congress was held in Kabul onSunday May 29.
The first everbig sports journalists’ congress toke place in Kabul on Sunday with dozens of Afghan sports reporters,government high officials, sports organizations officials and foreignjournalists attending the event, including the Secretary General of AIPS Asia Mr. Amjid Aziz Malik.
The congress washeld in the Kabul Star conferences hall, with around 200 participants participating in discussions and decision-making on sports journalism in the country.
President ofAfghanistan Sports Journalists Sayer Zaland in his opening remarks termed theoccasion as an historic milestone for the sports and sports journalists. Hesaid the congress would pave the way to nurture sports journalism andcoordinate sports related events in a better way. Zaland further added: “The ASJFannual congress is an event that brings all journalists together for mutualsupport, education and inspiration.”
He noted that the ASJF strives to createopportunities for growth for sports and sports journalists in Afghanistan.
According to Zaland, some 120 sportjournalists from both the center and provinces of the country are active members of the federation and efforts are being made to help further members fromacross the country join in.
Zaland pointedto the five year plan under which the federation expected to work oncoordination of sportsmen, capacity building and sharing work experiences witheach other as well with international journalists. “We want to bring sportsjournalists together, under its auspices and as only official body for SportsJournalism in the country.” Zaland said
“As always, we are striving to bringin as manypeople as possible and our priority, indeed the reason for our existence as anorganization, is to help them, teach them and share with them about the new modern era of sports journalism,” the President of ASJF concluded.
Keynote speaker at the congress, Eng. Mohammad Khan, First Deputy of the Afghanistan Chief Executive said that people are tired of hearingnews about suicide bombings, explosions, killings, kidnappings and similarstories. “We are still in war but this congress brings the hope for us thatour young generation is working hard to stabilize the situation.”
He suggested tothe journalist to divide their news in two categories of good and bad newsbecause the good news would provide hope for citizens and encourage their interest to read and hear more.
“Try toconcentrate on positive stories such as construction, rehabilitation and keepthem in your work,” Khan told the journalists who werepresent on the occasion in a large number.
Eng. Mohammad Khan added that sportshelps individuals spend their time constructively, and resultsgaining pridefor the country and the nation on national and international level.
He praised the Afghan Sports journalist Federation for their work in the past last two years and insisted that government is ready to help and bring opportunities in the field.
The First Deputy of the CE also congratulated the president of ASJF on the achievement of organizing such a large congress in just a short span of time.
A video message from AIPS President Gianni Merlo was played in the congress to encourage thesports writers in Afghanistan. He alsocongratulated to the ASJF president and the entire sports journalists for such an achievement.
The first ASJF congress also attracted local andforeign journalists as well as government officials
Dawa KhanMenapal, deputy presidential spokesman read the statement of the President ofIslamic Republic of Afghanistan, H.E Mohammad Ashraf Ghani on the occasion. Inhis message, the President conratulated the ASJF for organizing the event and assuredthe Presidential Palace’s support for the congress and federation.
Amjid AzizMalik, Secretary General of AIPS Asia and one of the guests of honor at thecongress also congratulated all Afghan Sports journalists and the praised the work of ASJF as the only officialsports journalists’ body in the country.
Malik addedfurther that Afghanistan is a country full of opportunities and that there is a large young generation in the field of journalism. “AIPSand AIPS Asia have pledged their support to ASJF in every moment and lead the federation to the forefront of the field.”
He added on the occasionthat Afghan sports journalists would be provided with trainingopportunities in Bahrain and Pakistan as well in the other countries in the coming period.