Egyptian IOC Member: Revolution Good for Sports Movement

(ATR) Rania El-Wani tells Around the Rings Egypt's political upheaval is boosting the sports movement. She also reveals that Mounir Sabet, the other Egyptian on the IOC, is "safe and he is fine" following the overthrow of the government.

In an exclusive interview with ATR, El-Wani also said she was glad Egypt's new administration were committed to investing in sport and voiced confidence in Alexandria City's bid for the 2017 Mediterranean Games.

Mystery has surrounded the legal status of Sabet since the fall of Eqyptian President Hosni Mubarak earlier this year. With prosecutors investigating the financial dealings of Sabet's sister and Mubarak's wife, Suzanne, as well as her two sons, Sabet also came in for questioning.

El-Wani said Sabet was quizzed because of his connections with Mubarak. She spoke to him last week. "He is at home. He has not been cleared but he has also not been charged. Everyone in the family is under investigation," she said.

"He is safe and he is fine. But he is not happy of course... his brother-in-law and nephews are in prison."

"I really respect him. He has always done well for the country. It's disappointing he has had to go through this."

Like others embroiled in the ongoing probe into Mubarek's Egyptian government, which includes allegations of ill-gotten riches, Sabet is not allowed to travel. He has also had his bank account frozen, she confirmed.

Sabet, 74, was elected to the IOC in 1998 and is Egypt’s senior IOC member. He was a general in the Egyptian military.

Despite the upheaval in Egypt, El-Wani told ATR she thought the sports movement was benefiting from the changes forced on her country. She has not been caught up in the turmoil.

Asked for her message to the Olympic Movement, the 33-year-old said: "Nothing could have happened as good as this [the revolution]. The main pillar of the country is sport.

"I don't see any disruption any more. We are back on track."

Noting the resumption of the country's football league last week, the Egyptian member of the IOC Athletes Commission added: "The country is heading for better waters. The only thing we are waiting to happen is for the economy to come up again.

"The sports business is doing well," she said. In the last two months she has opened two new swimming academies.

"Of course we don't have the sponsors and events but that is okay two months after...," El-Wani admitted, but added that there was "a big boost in creating sports programming on TV".

"It is good for sport and proves what people really care about collectively. We all agree sport is a good thing."

Commenting on Egypt's bid for the 2017 Mediterranean Games of which she is vice-chairman, El-Wani indicated that she was buoyed by the backing of new Prime Minister Essam Sharaf.

Earlier this month, Sharaf reviewed bid documents and gave his support for the efforts to bring the games back to Alexandria City. The city hosted the first quadrennial multi-sport event in 1951.

"The current government approve that sport is still a very important part of society," El-Wani said, remarking on the government's financial commitment to building the athletes' village in the city, a vital element in the bid book.

"They think it is good for us. That is good thinking," she added. All the venues needed will still be built by the Egyptian army, a plan made under the old government regime.

El-Wani expects Tripoli in Libya to drop out of the bid race for the games due to unrest in the country, leaving the Egyptian bid facing competition from Rijeka in Croatia and Tarragona, Spain.

"We want to show that we are stable enough to host this competition. It is still a win-win situation even if we don't get it," she said, adding that venues would be built regardless of the outcome of the host city vote.

The International Committee of Mediterranean Games will select the host city in October.

Written by Mark Bisson