BY RIZWAN REHMAT
DOHA: FIA chief Jean Todt has underlined the need to focus on grassroots programmes to develop motor sport in the MENA region, saying ‘stronger communication’ would make things easier to manage.
Todt, who is in Doha for a MENA meeting of FIA, said: “Your region is very important. For me, development from grassroots is important. Whether it is developing go-karting or going to the highest level in every kind of category, it starts from grassroots. It is something we will address in the next few years.”
Todt said every member country in the MENA region needed to be handled differently.
“We should develop the sport depending on the country (we are looking at). We have to look at each country separately. We have to make (motor) sport affordable and to see how many people start from grassroots,” Todt said.
“Since the last election, we have a Funding Review Commission which will give support to clubs all around the world,” the 68-year-old Frenchman added:
Todt said MENA remained a region of significant importance to FIA, the world body in car racing.
“I must say it is a big pleasure to be in the region where so many clubs are given tasks to develop motor sport. Talking about developing motor sport, I am glad to see Chairman of ASN Development Task who is closely dealing with other officials to make things easier. They are here to listen to you and consider all that is going to be debated during this two-day meeting,” he told the MENA gathering.
“We need to have champions from the region. We have champions in the region but our aim is to get more people representing your region and be present in any kind of category of motor racing,” Todt said.
“You need to have as many champions you can. It is good that way.”
Todt, who was re-elected as FIA President for another four-year term last December, mentioned road safety as one of the pillars of the motor sport industry.
“Road safety is very dear to FIA and me. It is something really to be addressed when we are talking about motor racing,” he said.
Nasser bin Khalifa Al Attiyah, President of QMMF and a Vice President at FIA, pledged total commitment to raising the profile of the sport in the MENA region.
“We are looking to consider many issues as we have a vision to develop the sport in this region,” Al Attiyah said.
“I would like to thank Mr Mohammed bin Sulayem for his great work in the past as FIA Vice President. We are continuing new responsibilities with more development. We must manage better organisation of events,” he said.
“There are tasks waiting for us so that we can link Middle East and North Africa (MENA) through motor sport. We have work to do. We have to work hard - work from safety elements to women events. There are other things we can develop. We have to touch karting and hill climbing. We need to think about drifting. We need to find new members for this region. We have vacancies to fill.
“In my planning, I am trying to make a strong team around me. I would like to have many coordinators to create workshops to link our work. We will show the (new) website to show better communication. I want to thank FIA for their support for our region. Hopefully, we will get to share experiences in this meeting,” Al Attiyah said.
Andrew Papadopoulous, President ASN Development Task Force, also addressed the gathering, touching a wide-range of topics. Frederique Trouve, Deputy Director, FIA Development Department, charted out future plans and later took questions from MENA region officials.
The Peninsula
