IAU President Nadeem Khan used his recent attendance at the Arab Championships in Cairo as an opportunity to meet with federation leaders from across the region and strengthen relationships with IAU member federations.
The 17-nation championship provided a more intimate setting for discussions, allowing Khan to connect with a number of federation presidents and officials during his time in Cairo. The event brought together representatives from across the Arab region, creating an opportunity for wider engagement alongside the sporting programme.
Nadeem met with the presidents of the federations of Sudan, Libya, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Jordan and Algeria, as well as representatives of the host federation in Egypt. With several new federation leaders taking up their positions, the visit provided an opportunity to establish relationships and exchange views on the development and future of ultra-distance running across the region.
His visit also included stops in Lebanon and Jordan on his way to Cairo. In Beirut, Khan met with the entire Lebanese federation, continuing discussions from his previous visit and maintaining the dialogue with the federation.
The Arab Championships therefore provided more than just an opportunity to follow the competition, bringing together federation representatives in an environment where there was time for more detailed and informal discussion.
The visit reflects the IAU’s continued focus on working closely with its national federations and supporting the development of ultra-distance running internationally. Direct engagement provides an opportunity to better understand the priorities and ambitions of individual federations, while also strengthening communication and cooperation across the region.
For Nadeem, the championship was an opportunity to combine attendance at a major regional event with continued engagement with the federations that form an important part of the IAU’s global community.
