President of the Republic, Michel Aoun, considered that “sports establish the noblest relations between peoples and bring their children closer, bypassing political barriers and uniting around moral and national values.”
Calling on young people to “engage in sports activities because of their benefits in terms of rapprochement, convergence and honorable competition to achieve high-end goals,” he stressed “the need to enhance the sportsmanship that is reflected in the lives of individuals and their human and social interaction, especially in today’s world, which is full of conflicts and mutual discord, which is scrutinized A glimmer of hope that demonstrates cooperation and solidarity that produces fruits that benefit everyone.
The President of the Republic’s words came when he received, this morning at Baabda Palace, the delegation of the Asian Mini Football Federation, who is visiting Lebanon on the occasion of the convening of its general assembly in Beirut from 17-19 September.
On behalf of the delegation, the President of the Federation, Philip Gouda, thanked President Aoun for the reception, expressing his pride in what Lebanon is doing at the level of the International Mini-Football Federation and introducing it to the region, and congratulating the Lebanese Federation on its achievements. He pointed out that “the reason for his presence in Lebanon is to participate in the elections that will be held to elect the president of the Asian Federation and to support candidate Ahmed Dench, president of the Lebanese Federation, which was founded in 2016 and plays an important role in introducing this sport at the level of Lebanon and the region.” He pointed out that “one of the future goals of the AFC is to set up a match and international sports activities in Lebanon to contribute to the promotion of the tourism sector in it.”
The delegation included the president of the federation, Philip Judeh from the Czech Republic, the secretary general of the international federation, Zorica Hoffman from Serbia, the vice president of the federation, Ashraf bin Salha from Tunisia, the president of the international federation, Vital Shergonkar from India, the president of the Arab federation, Ahmed Samir from Egypt, the president of the Omani federation, Zayed Al-Rushdi from Amman, President of the Lebanese Federation Ahmed Dench, Secretary General of the Lebanese Federation Gilbert Abboud, Vice President of the Lebanese Federation Haitham Dogan, and Vice President of the Lebanese Federation Patrick Aoun.
President Aoun responded with a speech in which he welcomed the delegation in Lebanon, wishing its members success in their mission, stressing the importance of the sporting achievements that Lebanon achieved and which raised its name high in the world of diverse sports.
He also welcomed what “the Federation intends to do in Lebanon in order to support the tourism sector in it through the establishment of international sports matches and activities in it”, recalling that “Lebanon hosted many sports matches and tournaments of an international and regional nature on its soil, which were characterized by perfection and good organization, and left Positive feedback from all participants.