|
|
|
|
|
Dear Colleagues,
|
|
In recent weeks I have been thinking a great deal about what it means to be a sports journalist today and what it should mean. At the same time I felt both shaken and inspired by the realization that I set out on this path half a century ago, with sport at its very center.
Sport has been part of my life for fifty years as a former Olympic gymnast, and also as a sports journalist, sports lawyer, and sports manager, in line with my academic degrees. What matters most, however, is that for more than thirty years I have loved our profession, sports journalism, and I have kept my first AIPS card since 1996. As a member of the leadership and as a vice president, for nine years I have seen AIPS from the inside, its strengths and where we still have room to grow.
This experience led me to a decision: I am running for the presidency in the April 12 election. My full program is available on the csisztu.com website. I trust the details will show that we have a plan and we have a direction.
|
|
|
|
|
I want AIPS to be stronger, more visible, and more fair. My goal is that no national association should miss our congresses for financial reasons. I believe young sports journalists must receive real opportunities through the Young Reporters Program. I also want the AIPS Sport Media Awards to be a worthy recognition of all those who have told the story of sport in words, in writing, or in images. The financial foundations for this are in place, together with committed partners and resources. What matters most is that we have the will and we have the spirit.
This letter is also about what I experienced in recent days in The Gambia, and what strengthened my belief that we are on the right path.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
On the first day of my visit to The Gambia I went to the Bright Minds Innovative Int’l Academy and the Unique Foundation, where I met underprivileged children under the age of six. There was no program and no script, we simply began to move together. In a few minutes a spontaneous physical education session showed what I have believed for a long time: training the body is one of the cornerstones of human development, and movement is a shared language.
It was incredible to see how quickly the children responded. We laughed, they copied one another, they competed, and they lived the moment. It reminded me why I trained for twenty years as a gymnast, and why I have been writing and reporting ever since: the joy of movement spreads, and it connects us.
|
|
|
Help matters most where the need is greatest
|
|
In The Gambia, alongside my personal donations, I also had the opportunity to present the Hungary Helps humanitarian program in Africa, which has already delivered successful initiatives in several African countries. What moves me most about this program is its approach: it focuses where the need is most urgent.
It supports rebuilding education and health care institutions, creating modern vocational training, and helping children, people with disabilities, women, and girls. It is tailored to real local needs, not imposed solutions from the outside. I would especially like to highlight the work of Solomon Ifeanyi Nathaniel. His Mobile Library program serves children’s education, and his team delivers the highest possible quality despite limited resources.
|
|
|
|
|
Real experiences and real debates at the 8th AIPS Africa Congress
|
|
During my time in The Gambia I listened to exceptionally valuable topics in carefully curated panel discussions. I congratulate Abdoulaye Thiam, President of AIPS Africa, Musa Sise, Secretary General of AIPS Africa, and Omar Jarju, President of the Gambian SJA, for the outstanding preparatory work. The panels explored the global challenges of our profession and the local difficulties faced across the continent.
It became clear to me that we can support the work of a continent only if we are present, we listen on the ground, and we give real attention to local problems. I was honored to take part in a panel about the continuing imbalance in the visibility and representation of women in sports media, an issue where AIPS must take a firmer stand.
My fellow panelists Sainey Sissoho, a former player and FIFA adviser, Kadiatou Traore, President of the Guinean National Sports Journalists Association and a member of the AIPS Africa Executive Committee, and the moderator Isatou Keita, President of the GPU, shared deeply personal experiences with the audience. The discussion was intense, with many questions and comments. We spoke about religious constraints, lack of confidence as a limiting factor, and how local heroes and influencers can shape women’s ambitions in sport.
For me it once again became clear that sport truly builds bridges, and our task as sports journalists is to tell these stories. Our responsibility goes beyond reports and interviews. We must work with open eyes and open hearts, recognize real needs, and act where we can.
I believe that together we can build a stronger AIPS.
With respect and friendship,
Dr Zsuzsa Csisztu
AIPS Vice President | AIPS Presidential Candidate
|
|
|
|
|
|
