Egypt State Information Service

The state pays a great attention to youth and sport; so preparing them mentally, physically and professionally in addition to rehabilitating and activating their participation in national action, is one of the main issues of development in Egypt: Therefore, the coming generations could contact the new era whose technological achievements depend on think-tanks that are able to create, innovate and face the future challenges.

The state accords great interest to this vast sector which represents 41% of the population. In 1956, law no. 197 was issued to establish the Supreme Council for Youth Care, with the objective to realize the resources of power and care for youths, through physical and social education. In 1978, the Republican decree was issued to establish a new youth ministry. The decree included a new element in the field of youth care and organizing work, as it stipulated establishing youth directorates in governorates. In 1979, the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports was established.

The 1980s witnessed an active participation of youth in decision-making institutions, in youths parliament programs, in implementing a culture of private business, in improving training programs and centers, in supporting the civil society organizations and the non-governmental organizations, and providing them with facilities and technical aid to activate their role and to promote the culture of volunteering and other concepts that focus on both societal and social responsibility, of individuals.

In 1999, a decree was issued to organize the youth ministry, its third article stipulated establishing a Youth and Sport National Council. Bringing this into effect, a Youth and Sport National Council was established in 2003 with representatives from the different ministries concerned with youths. The Youth and Sports National Council for Women also includes a representative from the National Council.

The Council proposes legislativons and sets the required regulations and mechanisms to determine the relations, duties and responsibilities as well as organize all youth activities and monitoring them. It also draws the legal and institutional framework to move to the financial and administrative independence in order to ensure development movement in youth field on the international level.

The Council constitutes a committee in order to formulate a new law on youth authorities coping with the variables and new developments in the society. The committee includes professionals in youth action and representatives from all organizations related to youth (Cities and Villages Youth Centers Federation, Scout Federation, Youth Labor Federation, Federation for Young Moslems Associations, Christian Young Men Association and Youth Houses Association.

Youth Centers reached 4460, distributed all over the country. Believing in its role, the National Project for Improving Youth Centers is being implemented, as well as making productive centers of developing features where various cultural and social services are produced and also it exercises an effective role in improving aspects and values prevailing in the different youth sectors.

The Youth Ministry has allocated LE 37.5 million as aids for youth centers in the governorates to support the different activities in these centers. Thirty centers have been constructed in 2005/06, 339 youth centers in the villages all over governorates are developed to become 2966 developed centers with a total of 72 percent at the youth centers.

A plan is being implemented to establish a youth center in every Egyptian village where its population number is over 5000 citizens and the first priority is for Upper Egypt villages and villages of high populated density. In addition, youth centers will be change into cultural and sport gathering places in cooperation with the National Council for Youth, Culture Palaces Organization and the Armed Forces.

Youth Centers were supported by LE 9,032,000 million in 2006 and the role of 102 science and technology clubs in youth centers were activated. In addition, the number of libraries of 339 Markaz (towns) and villages were completely furnished at a total cost of LE 2,576,805, so the number of libraries reached 2966 libraries. As well, 96 youth centers were supported to equip Gymnasium halls with equipments and sport tools at an amount of LE 310,000.

- Introducing computers at youth centers in villages to develop 100 centers at the end of 2006 and all centers will be completed during 4 years in cooperation with the Ministry of Telecommunications.

- About 670 young males and females benefited from job opportunities in youth centers during 2005/06. 32 clubs for young males and females in youth centers were established to reach 202 clubs providing various social services.

The number of youth camps reached 31 camps all over Egypt. A plan for developing these camps and changing them into integrated youth cities was started as well as completely investing the area of the camp all over the year to make the best benefit for youths. This project also could be used as camps for sports teams and Arab and foreign delegations that signed the protocol of “Know Your Country” progamme.

- Abi Qeer Camp in Alexandria was developed to be a youth and sport city at an area of 37 feddans. In addition, development works of Hurghada, Ras El Bar and Luxor Camps will be nearly completed at the end of 2006. the Establishment of three new youth cities will be started in Al-Arish, Port Said and Gamasa.

A project of youth villages in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation in addition to The Ministry of Housing, Urbanization Authority, the Social Fund for Development and the Private Financial Fund for Upraising youth and Sport, is established. The project is based on providing a land with an area of 6 feddans for cultivation provided with various services to guarantee youth and their family stability in these villages. Feasibility studies of this project were prepared and work started at Beir Abid in North Sinai. As well a detailed data base about youth who desire to benefit from the new urban complexes project, was prepared.

The national Council for Youth in cooperation with UNCIF issued a civil education guide for youth in order to teach them the values of citizenship, equality and democracy in 2006, about 5 courses were implemented and 208 young men and women participated in them. In addition, 4 training courses were implemented according to the project, “New horizons for Civil Education” in cooperation with Frederich Naoman organization where 161 young males and females benefited from it phase I of youth culture programme in cooperation with the International Center for Future and Strategic Studies, was completed where 245 young males and females participated in. As well, courses for preparing the specialized young leaders were organized.

The year 2006 witnessed the implementation of the 1^st Conference for Youth parliament with the participation of 108 young males and females of Parliamentary members in addition to the 7^th National conference for Scouts with a participation of 106 scouts. The Arab Conference for Scouts under the title of “Culture is the language of peace …a young innovator for a great dream” was held with participation of 57 scouts from 11 Arab countries.

The number of voluntary clubs in youth centers reached 638 club following up the implementation of many volunteering projects that serve youth and society. The year 2006 witnessed the implementation of phase II of “Serve your country” initiative in 15 governorates with the participation of 780 young males and females as well as implementing environmental volunteering project for green cities and the National Forum for Volunteering in the occasion of Voluntary Day in Assuit governorate with the participation of 200 young males and females. In addition, the active forum for facing crises and disasters was held.

Within the framework of the invitation that the year 2007 will be a year of eliminating illiteracy, the cooperation protocol between the National Council for youth and General Organization for Adult Education Public Authority was signed in order to benefit from the religious group programmes that go through Egypt's villages and cities to combat illiteracy.

To implement such initiative, 446 classes for combating illiteracy were established in youth centers and 100,000 young men and women were appointed in the project of “Combating Illiteracy Summer in the Egyptian Village” in cooperation with the General Organization for Adult Education.

Within the framework of the openness of National Council for youth to world, 4 programmes for youth exchange were implemented with Tunisia, Sudan, Morocco and Jordan in addition to the Egyptian-Sudanese brotherly week and cooperation protocol with Qatar in 2006.

Since 2000, the Ministry for Military Production had taken over the young graduates training and preparation for the labour market, in order to solve the problem of unemployment for the holders of high, intermediate and above intermediate certificates, through training them on professions, crafts and skills to increase their chances for job opportunities, in an effective way that combines between theoretical knowledge, practical skills and the needs of society.

Phase IV was completed during the period from 1/7/2004 till 31/12/2004, and LE 62,376 million were spent to train 71855 trainees in 22 ministries and organizations. More than 400,000 youths were trained at a cost of LE 285 million. About 100,000 of them adopted works in both public and private sectors.

Within the framework of rehabilitating the young graduates, the National Council for Youth signed a protocol with The Ministry Telecommunication and implemented two training courses for development the fundamental skills in Information Technology in the Civil Education Center and Preparing Young Leaders.

The Social Fund for Development (SFD) is considered the first Egyptian socio-economic security network that aims at decreasing extreme poverty as well as decreasing the high percentage of unemployment. It was set up on virtue of Decree No. 40 of 1991, to support the Egyptian economic reform process.

The success of the SFD was a motive to issue Decree No. 434 of 1999 to establish the small-scale enterprises agency under the umbrella of the SFD to manage and support small enterprises. It has proven its effectiveness in providing real and productive job opportunities at a suitable cost, raising the income of families and individuals; it has also proved its proper placement of the semi skillful manpower with its diversity of production and the skills offered in a structure that is well suited with the needs of the national economy.

In addition, the first Egyptian law on developing small establishments was issued in June 2004 in recognition of the importance of the small enterprises for being a locomotive for the comprehensive development of the Egyptian economy.

The SFD has its own set of procedures to generalize, transform and implement the infrastructure of projects, that provide potable water and sanitary drainage, develop irrigation means, roads improve the environment in cooperation with social environment programmes in health, education, illiteracy and child care, women empowerment, and promoting human resources.

- About 290 integrated loan centres have been established in banks, as well as launching various cooperative planning programmes and promoting campaigns with universities to spread the concept of private business. Due attention was paid to the non-governmental societies, ceaseless training for small investors, and developing the skills by more than 320 specialist in addition, about 600 managers were promoted.

- Improving the electronic administration systems (MIS) to hook up all the SFD's regional offices with customers and the SFD's headquarters and participating in Cairo International Fair with about 25 products showcased by 100 exhibitors, and cooperating with the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Industry and Helwan University to put 50 improved industrial products on equal standards.

- Making the best use of over employment in some businesses sectors and embarking on the project of recycling wastes in cooperation with the Ministry of Environment and the Federation of Economic Development associations.

In 1995, the youth housing project started and was completed on different phases. It comprised about 400,000 housing units for youth and also the future housing project. These were completely handed over.

The project started in 1986 with the object of allowing young graduates to acquire plots of agricultural lands. So far, 666,000 beneficiaries have 2777,000 feddans. Utilities and infrastructure were installed in the lands of small farmers and young graduates in Toshka.

In addition, for the first time the Social fund finances youth projects for reclaiming lands and agricultural projects in order to increase the agricultural land and production in general.

Sport is considered one of the criteria of development and progress for every nation, and the Constitution ensures sport. The state with all its institutions seeks to care for sponsoring youths and providing the integrated and balanced growth to develop their skills and minds.

Ancient Egyptians practiced sports and gave it great interest, for the sake of health and Power. One of the main bases of choosing pharaohs so rulers was to run which was called (Korban race).

Pictures inscribed on tomb walls show that most of the games are basically Egyptian. Egyptians practiced various sports in both Turkish and Mamlouki era. But modern sports were known by Egyptians during the British occupation in 1882 under the rule of Khedive Abbass Helmi. The first Egyptian team was formed under the title in 1895 and was called “Nashed” team after its to it founder. Clubs started at the beginning of the 20^th century.

The first official cup was known by Egypt in 1913. In 1921, the first Egyptian football union was established as well as the first swimming pool, which was affiliate to the Ministry of Education. In 1922, Prince Farouq Cup was set as an award that became the Cup of Egypt. Sports witnessed an Egyptian movement including all unions Egypt won 16 Olympic medals during 1928-1948. Moreover, Egypt participated in the Olympic Games in Belgium in 1920 as well as in the World Cup in 1934. After the July Revolution in 1952, youth centers, Playgrounds, stadiums and village clubs were established in the various Egyptian governorates. Proudly, the Egyptian football team rose to the finals of the World Cup in Italy in 1990, it also won the African cup in 1986 and 1998 as well as winning the World Handball Championship for Juniors in 1993.

Egypt participated in Athens Olympic Games in 2004 where it won 5 medals (gold, silver and 3 bronze medals). In 2004, the Egyptian military team won the African championship for football for the fourth time in its history and for the third time successively. It also won the World Cup in Germany in 2005 and the Egyptian football team won the African cup in 2006.

At the beginning of 2006 and the establishment of the National Council for Sport, the state paid due attention to sports development through expanding the base of practicing sports for all the brackets of society in addition to developing sports establishments and sponsoring talents. As well, the state is keen to develop the industry of sports equipment and management systems in addition to financing sports in addition on developing the sports legislations.

The past years witnessed great sports achievements. Sports are spread all over governorates, great and small cities. Egypt became teaming with sports constructions, which can compete in hosting international championship. The number of stadiums in Egypt reached 25 among which there are Cairo International Stadium with a capacity of 27,000 audiences and the Military college Stadium and Port Said Stadium with a capacity of 45,000 audiences each and Max Stadium in Alexandria.

The number of halls reached 35 halls after the inauguration of the indoor games hall in Almansoura Stadium in Daqahlia governorate in 2005. Number of swimming pools reached 73 and about 6784 playgrounds in clubs and youth centers were added in addition to other 20 playgrounds in 2005. The number of activity halls reached about, and a hospital for medical sports was established in Nasr City and 113 Units for medical sports were established in governorates.

It is located on the Airport road and it is considered an edifice for sports where tens of various sport playgrounds are included, besides the related services. It comprises 4 playgrounds for football and pentathlon, 4 basketball playgrounds. Also 4 volleyball playgrounds, and 5 for the tennis courts, also 4 for squash rooms and a race track for bicycles and running. Moreover, there are 2 playgrounds for ski and two halls for bowling and billiard as well as a gymnasium hall, vapor hall and video games hall. Besides, the complex also includes dressing rooms, restaurants, shop and cars parking.

The year 2004/05 witnessed the improvement and renovation of Cairo Stadium at a cost of LE 150 million for the preparation of the African Cup for football championship which was held in 2006. Also there was the inauguration of the indoor games hall in Mansoura Stadium in Daqhlia, and that of the Labour Social Institution related to the General Union of the Egyptian Labourers Syndicate in Shobra el Kheima. In addition, the new building of the Olympic Academy and sports unions as established and desert lands that are close to Cairo outlets for the clubs horizontal expansion were allocated.

The state pays due attention to sport's Champions through (the National project for juniors, endurance centers, preparing the Olympic champion programme) in addition giving great attention to sports talented schools.

- The Mediterranean Games in Spain (Al Maria) in 2005 and Egypt won 43 medals (14 gold, 10 silver and 19 Bronze); it ranked 6^th. Also a Jolley Ville Championship for Golf in Hurghada was held as the first championship entitled “The professors” in Egypt.

- In 2006, the Egyptian Athletics team won 8 medals in the African Championship in Mauritius(4 gold, 2 silver and 2 Bronze); it ranked 4^th Egypt accessed the membership of the International Federation for Marine.

- Egypt won the gold medal in Wrestling Championship, China 2006, and bronze medal in weight-lifting, Dominican, and in Modern Pentathlon won the World Junior Championship, China and the Youth Championship, Italy in the same year.

The draft statute of the Olympic Federations and clubs in 2000, to empower women to adopt the membership of the board of directors was amended. In December 2003, the number of women reached 15 in the board of directors' membership.

- The number of women participating in sports federations at the beginning of 2004 was 29658 women, and 7336 women in the sports clubs, as well as 1132 in the qualitative federations and 930187 registered at schools.

- Nahla Ramadan (weight-lifting), Marwa Hussein (Athletic games) Aya Madani (Modern pentathlon; she also won the gold medal in world Modern pentathlon championship in August 2006 are the Egyptian heroines.

The State Provides professional training and qualification as well as sport training for people of special needs since 1982 sport centers for the handicapped have been established, and 25 specialized centers were distributed in 20 governorates to train them in the field of athletic games, basket ball, volleyball, weight-lifting, swimming, and table tennis.

In April 1992, the Egyptian Federation for the Handicapped was established. It set the programmes that ensure the practicing of sports activity by the members through domestic and international competitions. As well, preparing the national teams that represent Egypt in championship, international competitions and Olympics in addition to preparing the trainers and referees who know the laws of every game that are different from the laws of the games of healthy people.