KABUL, December1, 2017 – The Afghanistan Sport Journalists Federationheld its second annual national Sport Journalists’ Congress on 30thNovember 2017 in the International Center of Media and Information of thegovernment.
A total of 250 sport journalists from 34provinces were present at the event, and for the first time speaker of theSenate, Deputy President of Afghanistan Olympic committee, Minister ofTransport, Acting minister of Information and culture, Governor of KabulProvince, Chairman of ACB, Deputy General Director of Afghanistan sport andphysical education directorate and top athletes.
ASJF president Sayer Zaland in his speechthanked the journalists from around the country for being part of ASJF and thesecond Sport Journalists’ Congress. “This is a big moment for me and for everyone of us that we are here to talk about our future and future of sport inAfghanistan,” Zaland said.
He underlinedthe achievement of the association during the past year and promised theparticipants that they would work hard during the upcoming year to promotesport media and the AIPS mission.
Zaland furtherhighlighted the problem of sport media and journalists in the country and askedthe sport organizations to support ASJF and sport journalists to work hard inthe future.
The ASJFPresident addressed the congress and spoke about the future plans of ASJF toprofessionalize sport journalism and organize different workshops for youngreporters.
He furthersaid the will work closely with sport organizations to solve problems betweensport journalists and the aimed organizations.
AIPSPresident Gianni Merlo in a video message to Mr. Sayer Zaland and the ASJF,called this congress as milestone for Afghan journalists.
Merlo addedthat sport is education, something that unites people and something that helppeople understanding each other better.
“Our aim isto bring the new and old generation together and to talk about the plans andproblems and bring peace and professionality everywhere.
“ASJF presidentSayer Zaland is a young guy and with big feelings for the country and he cansucceed in beginning a new era and new milestone in the history of sport journalismin Afghanistan,” the AIPS President added.
Speaker ofSenate Mr. Fazal Hadi Muslimyar alsoexpressed his support for ASJF and sport journalists and asked them to bringtheir problems and that they would help in solving them.
DadMohammad Payenda Akhtary, Vice president of the National Olympic Committeeacceped the problem of information and facilities for sport journalists in thepast and promised to help ASJF work for sport media.
After that theActing Minister of Information, Minister of transport, the Kabul governor,Deputy Director of sport and physical education of Afghanistan all spoke to thecongress and expressed their help and support for ASJF for future programs.
Two Forumsone for media and one for sport, where also successfully held during thecongress with participants from top media and senior journalists, with representativesfrom sport organizations addressing the questions of the media and givingdetailed reports about their activities.
In thethird session of the congress, sport organizations and sponsor companies held presentations.This was followed by the official congress, where sport journalists took partin an open discussion about the future of ASJF.
ASJF is theonly high official sport journalists’ body in the country having more than 123member around 34 provinces from different media outlets.
