Last week the Malta Sports Journalists Association participated in the 87th AIPS (International Sports Journalists Association) Congress held in Rabat, Morocco. The delegation included the General Secretary Lorraine Cunningham and the Honorary President and member of the Executive committee Sandro Micallef.

With an attendance of nearly 90 countries across four continents, this congress focused on various themes and upcoming sports events including the Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina, the Youth Olympics in Dakar and the FISU games in Rhine-Ruhr, Germany.

Throughout the three-day event, numerous forums and discussions took place, with the Executive Secretary Lorraine Cunningham contributing to a panel addressing the challenges faced by women in sports journalism. Other topics included the Saint Denis convention, investigative journalism, artificial intelligence, illegal games in sports and the role of content creators. Presentations were also done by FIFA, UEFA, IOC, Special Olympics, IJF, the Caribbean Centre of Sport and the Morocco’s Sport Federation.

The Malta Sports Journalists Association participated in the European Continental section, led by Charles Camenzuli where the statute was presented for the approval of delegates and Lorraine and Sandro’s contribution was crucial in the finalisation and approval process.

On the final day,  delegates decided on the location for the next congress, with the Maltese representatives playing a key role in the discussions.

Similar to the previous editions, this congress commenced with the annual AIPS Sports Media Awards and concluded with a visit to the new facility of Morocco’s Football Federation, which provides training for the national football and futsal teams.

Matul il-ġimgħa li għadha kemm intemmet, l-Għaqda Ġurnalisti Sports (GħĠS) ipparteċipat fis-87 kungress tal-Assoċjazzjoni Internazzjonali tal-Ġurnalisti Sportivi (AIPS), li sar fil-belt kapitali tal-Marokk, Rabat u għalih attendew is-Segretarju Ġenerali Lorraine Cunningham flimkien mal-President Onorarju u membru fil-Kumitat Eżekuttiv Sandro Micallef.

B’attendenza ta’ kważi 90 pajjiż minn 4 kontinenti, dis-sena kienu diskussi diversi temi u avvenimenti sportivi li se jkunu qed iseħħu matul din is-sena u jkomplu fl-2026. Fost is-suġġetti ppreżentati kien hemm l-Olimpjadi tax-xitwa f’Milano Cortina, l-Olimpjadi taż-żgħażagħ f’Dakar is-sena d-dieħla kif ukoll l-logħob tal-FISU f’Rhine-Ruhr il-Ġermanja din is-sena.

Matul it-tlett ijiem saru diversi fora u diskussjonijiet bis-Segretarju Ġenerali Lorraine Cunningham tkun waħda mill-membri tal-panel fil-forum dwar l-isfidi li jiffaċċjaw in-nisa fil-ġurnaliżmu sportiv. Taħdidiet oħra kienu dwar il-konvenzjoni ta’ Saint Denis, il-ġurnaliżmu investigattiv, l-intelliġenza artifiċjali, il-logħob illegali fl-isports u l-content creators.

Saru wkoll preżentazzjonijiet mill-FIFA, UEFA, l-IOC, Special Olympics, l-IJF, iċ-Ċentru tal-isport tal-Karibew u l-Federazzjoni Marokkina tal-iSport.

Matul il-kungress saru wkoll is-sezzjonijiet kontinentali fejn l-GħĠS ipparteċipat f'dak tal-Ewropa taħt il-presidenza ta' Charles Camenzuli. Din kienet sessjoni importanti hekk kif għall-ewwel darba kien ippreżentat statut għall-approvazzjoni tad-delegati fejn il-parteċipazzjoni ta' Lorraine u Sandro kienet waħda strumentali biex seta' jkun iffinalizzat u approvat dan id-dokument.

Fl-aħħar ġurnata d-delegati preżenti riedu jiddeċiedu l-lokalità ta' fejn se jsir il-kungress li jmiss u hawn għal darb'oħra ż-żewġ delegati Maltin kienu voċiferi u parteċipi matul id-diskussjonijiet animati tal-ġurnata.

Bħalma ġara fl-aħħar edizzjonijiet fl-ewwel jum tal-kungress saru l-awards annwali tal-midja sportiva filwaqt li fi tmiem tal-kungress id-delegati kellhom l-opportunità jżuru l-faċilità pjuttost ġdida tal-Federazzjoni Marokkina tal-Futbol li fiha fost l-oħrajn isir it-taħriġ tat-timijiet nazzjonali tal-Marokk tal-futbol u l-futsal.