Minister of Youth and Sports Dr. Ashraf Sobhy and Cairo Governor Dr. Ibrahim Saber took part in the Cairo Cycling Marathon organized by the Cairo Governorate as part of the Cairo Urban Week activities ahead of Egypt's hosting of the 12th Session of the World Urban Forum (WUF12) from November 4 to 8.
During the event, Cairo Governor Dr. Ibrahim Saber said the marathon is one of the promotional activities for the World Urban Forum. It comes as part of the state's commitment to introducing young people and citizens to the forum and the importance of participating in its events, given it is a global platform for learning and sharing ideas with other countries. It will also contribute to achieving significant benefits from the sustainable development experiences presented during the events. Moreover, it represents an opportunity to exchange knowledge and expertise with other nations.
Saber also stressed the governorate’s strong commitment to the success of this forum in a manner befitting Egypt and its regional and international position. He added that it is the second largest UN event on the United Nations agenda after the Climate Summit and the most significant global event regarding urbanization and inclusive urban development.
Saber asserted that all governorate bodies work diligently and integrally with all relevant ministries and authorities to organize this massive event.
Furthermore, Saber said all the governorate’s executive bodies collaborate with the relevant ministries and authorities to ensure its success, foremost among them the United Nations Human Settlements Program, UN-Habitat. In addition, there is cooperation with the Ministry of Housing, Utilities, and Urban Communities and the Ministry of Local Development to welcome the international guests participating and provide all the logistical solutions accompanying the forum's activities.
Saber also emphasized that there is daily follow-up on various developments related to hosting the forum, particularly regarding transportation, infrastructure, organizing visits, and coordinating the work of volunteers.
Saber said the forum enjoys extensive international and local engagement in terms of registration requests for its events, with registrants exceeding 24,000—an unprecedented record in previous urban forum sessions. In addition, there is high-level international, local, and regional participation with expectations for the success of the forum in Egypt in unifying the efforts of participating parties to launch a new era of urbanization and sustainable development. It also aims to enhance global awareness of the role of local action in addressing pressing issues such as housing availability, ease of transportation, water supply safety, and the impacts of climate change, in addition to urban crises and conflicts. The participants in the forum's events represent a significant diversity in professional backgrounds, ideas, and cultures related to urbanization issues.
Moreover, Saber pointed out that the governorate has recently witnessed unprecedented urban development in housing, infrastructure, roads, and informal settlements, enhancing its capacity to host global events related to urban development goals.
Saber also stated that the governorate, during the various activities of the forum, including the Urban Week of Cairo, aims to promote these achievements and build a modern international identity for Cairo. It also seeks to showcase the rich historical heritage of Cairo. That gives the World Urban Forum a unique character of diversity and reflects the importance of urban development in Egypt and its commitment to issues of reconstruction and development.
Deputy governors, ambassadors of Kuwait, Turkey, Indonesia, and Malaysia, members of the diplomatic corps, over 700 cyclists from youth centers and the Cairo Bike Project, and several officials of the Cairo governorate also participated in the marathon.
The marathon set off in front of the Cairo Governorate headquarters in Abdeen Square, passing through the historic Khedivial Cairo, streets like Mohamed Farid, Talaat Harb, and Qasr El-Nil, Tahrir Square, and concluding at the Horreya Garden in Opera Square, where a group of youth presented some traditional artistic performances.
Source: Media Department, Cairo Governorate
