The first FIA Sport Regional Congress held in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region for the National Sporting Authorities (ASNs) was launched today under the patronage of the Kuwaiti Minister of Information and State Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, Sheikh Salman Al-Hmoud. Representatives from 19 of the region’s ASNs were in attendance alongside FIA President Jean Todt, FIA Deputy President for Sport Graham Stoker, FIA Vice-President Nasser Bin Khalifa Al-Attiyah and the CEO of the Kuwait International Automobile Club, Essa Hamza.

 

In his opening address FIA President Jean Todt said: “It is a great pleasure to visit Kuwait for the second time. As you know, I have been travelling a lot in the MENA region, which is a very important part of our organization. What has been done over the last decade in motor sport in the region is absolutely fantastic. I can say that all this is the result of your contributions, as you worked very closely with the FIA”.

 

FIA Deputy President for Sport Graham Stoker underscored the fact that a strong sport needs strong clubs, adding that, under the leadership of President Todt, the FIA delivered a comprehensive development program for its ASNs. He introduced the all new FIA Global Training Programme (GTP), the first sessions of which will be held over the next two days.

 

Concerning the situation in the MENA region after the appointment of Nasser Al-Attiyah as FIA Vice-President, Stoker added: “What is exciting about the region is that there are strong examples of motor sport, but it is still growing.” Concerning the extent to which our laws are keeping up with the motor sport development, Stoker pointed out that we should start showing how this sport is socially responsible. He asserted that motor sport was engaging young people and women and using green sustainable engines and new technologies, while pointing to the existence of a whole range of issues showing that this is a leading sport.

 

As we approach International Women’s Day, this sunday, March 8th – now in its 25th year – women's involvement in motor sport was highlighted and a special event in the region was announced. Marielou Cruz, the FIA Marketing Coordinator and Deputy of FIA Vice-President in the MENA, said: “It is a great pleasure to be part of the MENA region and we are really pushing to ensure that women are involved in motor sport. For this purpose, we have a big surprise in the future, probably in October. We will organize a women training in Qatar, to which all female drivers and co-drivers will be invited, along with Michèle Mouton, Jutta Kleinschmidt and Fabrizia Pons. We are looking forward to that”.

 

From her part, Frédérique Trouvé, the Deputy Director of the FIA Development Department and the FIA Women Commission Manager, stated: “We started last year with a seminar organized upon the initiative of Mr. Nasser Al-Attiyah in Qatar. It was the first women seminar in the Middle East. We were very proud to support it, because it is an incredible initiative by Mr. Al-Attiyah. We are pushing hard for this and we are receiving a big support from the MENA region”.