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Dr. Ashraf Sobhy, Minister of Youth and Sports, met with Mr. Gilberto Gártner, President of the International Traditional Karate Federation, to discuss Egypt's official bid to host the Traditional Karate World Championship, scheduled for 2026.
The meeting was also attended by Mr. Rui Marsal, a member of the International Federation; Dr. Rami El-Mekkawy, President of the Egyptian and African Federations and a board member of the International Federation; and Dr. Mohamed Fawzy, board member of the African Federation.
Dr. Sobhy warmly welcomed Mr. Gártner, affirming Egypt’s readiness to host top-tier international tournaments, citing the country's proven track record in organizing more than 440 championships in recent years. He emphasized that this success is rooted in Egypt’s advanced sports infrastructure and the efforts of highly qualified and well-trained young professionals in event management and sports administration.
The Minister also highlighted the significant progress made in the development of sports facilities across Egypt, which has been achieved under the leadership of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. These efforts aim to modernize sports infrastructure nationwide and provide comprehensive support to Egyptian athletes, enhancing their technical capacities and broadening youth participation in sports.
For his part, Mr. Gilberto Gártner expressed his pleasure in visiting Egypt and extended his congratulations for the country’s impressive achievements. He was particularly impressed by the New Administrative Capital, describing it as a "global landmark that reflects the strength and vision of the Egyptian state."
Mr. Gártner noted that he had attended part of the Artistic Gymnastics World Cup hosted in Egypt and witnessed a remarkable level of organization and high-standard facilities. He expressed full confidence in Egypt’s ability to deliver an exceptional edition of the Traditional Karate World Championship, aligned with the country's growing stature in the global sports arena.
He further emphasized that Egypt boasts a large and active base of traditional karate practitioners, which significantly enhances the championship's potential for success and demonstrates the widespread popularity of the sport in the country.