The rise of an Egyptian sports hub hosting over 120,000 visitors and 160 exhibitors.

The Sports Expo 2023

Under the auspices of President Abdel Fattah El Sisi and in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Egypt has made history by hosting the Sports Expo 2023, the biggest sporting event to take place in the Middle East and Africa. Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, the Prime Minister, alongside Dr. Ashraf Sobhy, the Minister of Youth and Sports, and Hazem Hamada, founder of the Break Your Record initiative and Sports Expo and CEO of Delta Conex, a major company in the organization of international conferences and exhibitions, officially opened the event. Egypt Post served as the event's strategic sponsor, and other notable sponsors were Sawary Club, Rawabit, Mintra, Score Grass, Wadi Degla, Presentation, City Club, Estadat, Fithub, and Technogym. Zed Club served as the event's official club sponsor.

The event, which was held in Egypt for the first time, brought together local and international experts and specialists in sports investment, with the goal of putting Egypt on the map as a hub for international sporting events. Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Minister of Health, Lieutenant-General Osama Rabie, Chairman of the Suez Canal Authority, Dr. Mohamed Shaker, Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy, and Dr. Amr Talaat, Minister of Communications and Information Technology, as well as football stars Hazem Imam and Ahmed Hassan, attended the inauguration.

The Sports Expo 2023 exhibition was held over 20,000 sqm and hosted 120,000 visitors and 160 exhibitors, such as Mintra, Nasm, Suez Canal Olympic Village, Pharmagen Healthcare Egypt (TVN), Realleader, Sawary Sports Club, Score Grass, Sobek Sports, Ifoora, Solkit, Tazkarti, Techno Gym, The Club, Wadi Degla Clubs, World Gym, Zed Sports Club, Fithub Gym, Egypt Post, Dolphin Speed Boats, Modon, Happiness Club, Captex, and many others.

In support of this unprecedented event, Thomas Bach, President of the International Olympic Committee, expressed his congratulations to the Sports Expo 2023 organizers via prerecorded video, praising Egypt's efforts in organizing a diverse range of sports tournaments and demonstrating the country's immense potential and ability to host world-class sporting events. According to Bach, Egypt has a long history of sportsmanship and has always been a welcoming and hospitable host for athletes and visitors alike. In addition to expressing his belief that the Sports Expo 2023 will further strengthen Egypt's position on the global sports map, he also stated that it will provide a platform for knowledge sharing and collaboration among sports enthusiasts, professionals, and experts from all over the world.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino praised the organizers of the Sports Expo 2023 conference, highlighting FIFA's commitment to utilizing technology to enhance the game and commended the conference for making it a key focus and for Egypt's plan to become a leading football hub.

A recorded speech by the head of the International Anti-Doping Agency was presented, in which he emphasized the importance of the event in promoting sports for Egypt on the global stage. The head of the agency emphasized that the conference would provide an excellent platform for discussions and the sharing of knowledge and best practices in the fight against doping.

The ‘Break Your Record’ Initiative

The “Break Your Record” initiative aims to encourage Egyptians to incorporate sports into their daily lives. To achieve this, Sports Expo organizers designed and built a fully equipped sports arena to host a plethora of sports tournaments and activities. Among these activities were a chess tournament that attracted over 400 participants, two padel courts, speedball, rowing, calisthenics, and powerlifting. A basketball tournament was also held with the participation of the “Alhassan Foundation for Differently Abled Inclusion”‎ along with a number of Egyptian teams. Additionally, a laser running competition with 70 contestants, and a badminton tournament with the participation of 70 male and female players in partnership with the winning international champion in para-badminton, Shaima Samy.

The “Break Your Record” activations empowered more than 150,000 visitors to rekindle their passion for athletics by experiencing new and exciting sports such as Frisbee, a sport that will now have a dedicated Federation as per the directions of Dr. Ashraf Sobhy, Minister of Youth and Sports, who participated in the Frisbee activation during the Expo himself.

The activation hall stage held engaging fitness workouts by FitHub Gym, such as Zumba, yoga, and ballet dancing. Various discussion panels also took place, focusing on the field of sports with the participation of a group of experts. The talks centered around nutrition, health, and wellness, and physical motivation.

Addressing Sports-Related Issues

During the expo, vital topics were addressed, such as “Sport as a Lifestyle.” In this session, the impact of sports on human health and its role in developing the national economy were discussed, as well as the procedures required to encourage citizens to practice sports. Dr. Ashraf Sobhy, Minister of Youth and Sports, explained that the volume of sports investments with the private sector amounted to EGP 8 billion over four years, and as a result, Egypt turned into a destination for hosting international events. Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar confirmed that 35% of heart and nervous system diseases are improved through sports and that walking for an average of 300 minutes a week is deemed useful for humans and could prevent diseases.

The session titled “Preparing Countries to Host Major Sporting Events” featured the participants from the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy in Qatar reviewing the role of the committee in organizing the activities of the 2022 World Cup, which included all the procedures that took place before presenting the hosting file to FIFA to be used in Egypt's submission of its request to host the World Cup and the 2036 Olympic Games. The session explained some facts and figures about FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, such as the required infrastructure of stadiums, means of transportation, direct and indirect expenses, and all revenues gained by Qatar from the organization, emphasizing the importance of the sports industry for economic growth.

The “Sports Investment” session discussed ways to benefit from investment in the sports sector, how to achieve the highest desired returns from it, and the procedures and incentives required. It also discussed the role of the private sector by increasing the growth rates of sports investment and the importance of building local sports brands. Stephen Ibbotson, Head of Licensing & Franchising in the Spanish League, stressed during the session the importance of countries' support for sports investment. The Spanish League generates about $1.7 billion of Spain's national income, and the football league, La Liga, seeks to invest $2 billion in the Spanish League sports infrastructure.

During the "La Liga Experience" session, participants reviewed the league's contribution to increasing returns on sports investments and tourism revenues in Spain. They also discussed the influential role of Spanish football in raising growth rates and its impact on the Spanish economy, particularly in regard to sports-related aspects. The session highlighted that La Liga's success is due to its practical, organized, and rigorous approach in implementing these strategies to achieve its desired goals.

The "Egypt's Football Vision for the Future" session by Gamal Allam, President of the Egyptian Football Association, Rogerio Mikali, Technical Director of the Egyptian Olympic Team, and Roy Vitoria, coach of the Egyptian national team explored ways to improve the growth of football in Egypt, including preparing national teams, improving commercial and broadcasting rights, and enhancing the skills of players, coaches, and referees.

The "Talent Management and Preparing Sports Champions" session highlighted the importance of modern programs and equal opportunities to discover and develop sports talents. Moreover, the "Strength and Conditioning Training and Endurance of Olympic Champions" session discussed strategies to improve athletes' strength and ability through scientific training methods and analyzing psychological and mental data. Finally, the "Sports Medicine and the Road to Recovery" session explored measures to recover from sports injuries and improve players' performance and health through the latest technologies in sports medicine and injury reduction.

According to Hazem Hamada, "After the massive success of the first edition of Sports Expo, the second edition is set to take place next February. Sports Expo 2024 is expected to be significantly bigger and fully equipped to host a wide array of sporting events."

"The Sports Expo 2023 has demonstrated Egypt's commitment to promoting sports and investing in its potential to drive economic growth. The event has brought together a diverse range of experts and specialists, who have shared their knowledge and experience to inspire and motivate the next generation of athletes and sports enthusiasts. With the launch of Sports Expo 2024, Egypt is set to continue its journey as a leader in the sports industry," Hazem added.

Overall, the Sports Expo 2023 has been a success in showcasing Egypt's potential as a sports hub and highlighting the importance of investing in sports to drive economic growth. The various sessions and discussions held during the event have provided valuable insights and strategies for improving sports management, talent development, and athlete performance. With the announcement of Sports Expo 2024, Egypt is set to further cement its position as a leader in the sports industry and provide a platform for sports enthusiasts and professionals to come together and share their knowledge and experience.