The 85th AIPS (International Sports Press Association) Congress, which took place in Seoul, in South Korea came to an end on Thursday. The agenda of this congress included the revision of the AIPS statute which was approved after more than two years of discussion within the statute commission. The congress also included presentations by various International Sports Federations about their visions and preparations for sports events that will be taking place in the coming months. Presentations were given by the International Olympic Committee which included an overview of the preparations for the Olympic Games which will be taking place in Paris next year. In addition, FIFA also presented a report about the preparations for the Women’s World Cup which is happening in Australia and New Zealand this Summer.

Other presentations were delivered by UEFA about the 2024 European Championship, by UNESCO about their education through sport project and by FISU where they gave insight information about the World University Games which are being held in China in 2024.

During his presentation Thomas Giordano, UEFA Head of Communications, mentioned the fact that UEFA and AIPS had agreed about the organization of another Young Reporters Programme which will be held around the UEFA EURO U19 Championship which will be hosted in Malta between the 3rd and 16th July 2023. In this regard the Malta Sports Journalists Association together with AIPS is giving an opportunity to a Maltese prospective sports journalist to collaborate with a group of other foreign young reporters from around the world and experience a full immersion of sports reporting and journalism.

The 85th edition of the AIPS Congress kicked off with the AIPS Sports Media Awards ceremony where several honours were awarded in several different sports journalism categories together with other special mentions and recognitions.

Sandro Micallef and Lorraine Cunningham President and General Secretary respectively of the Malta Sports Journalists Association represented Malta in this Congress. Their participation was possible through the assistance of Together Gaming Solutions which is one of the association’s official sponsors. Charles Camenzuli, President AIPS Europe and AIPS Vice President was also in Seoul for the Congress.

During this Congress the General Assembly of AIPS Europe was also held in which it was decided that in view of the current situation of the Russian invasion in Ukraine, AIPS Europe will write formally to the International Olympic Committee to reconsider its position regarding Russian and Belarus athletes who will be allowed to compete in the Olympic Games Paris 2024.