By: Ridage Mohamed, Sama Moustafa, Malak Yasser

Prof. Hanan Gunaid: media has serious role to play in limiting the spread of sports fanaticism 

Prof. Hanan Gunaid: Sport is one of the tools of soft power, and we must realize that it promotes image of countries and peoples 

Prof. Nermin Al-Azraq: Campaign comes from belief in Mass Communication role in rejecting unethical practices in the media.

Prof. Dalia Abdullah: Intolerance is a phenomenon requires concerted societal forces to limit its exacerbation.

Journalist Ahmed Abdel Basset: Sports intolerance because of lack of awareness, so we must reaffirm values of normal sports media.

Journalist Mohamed Al-Qusi: Sport is a way to make people happy, not to instill hatred among them.

The Faculty of Mass Communication at Cairo University, organized today, Sunday evening, a symposium for Confronting Sports Fanaticism within the framework of the graduation project of the Public Relations And Advertising department students in their campaign entitled "Raya w Sakina" under the auspices of Prof. Mohamed Othman Elkhosht, President of Cairo University, and Prof. Hanan Gunaid, Dean of the Faculty of Mass Communication, Cairo University, and under the supervision and organization of Prof. Nermin Nabil Azraq, Head of the English Section, and Prof. Dr. Dalia Mohamed Abdullah, Head of Public Relations and Advertising Department.

A number of sports media critics and sports analysts were invited to the symposium, including Ahmed Al-Khodary, Ahmed Abdel-Basit, Ahmed Al-Qusi, and Islam El-Tahawy, responsible for the media office at the UNESCO branch in Cairo.

The symposium began with the national anthem, then an introductory and welcoming speech from the students of the project, where the students expressed their great happiness with the guest speakers and the attendance of faculty members and students.

The activities of the symposium began with a welcoming speech delivered by Prof. Hanan Junaid, Dean of the Faculty of Mass Communication, Cairo University, in which she welcomed the guests and attendees and said that sports fanaticism is a danger to the country as a whole, stressing that this fanaticism has reasons, including social media, and that this phenomenon must be addressed because of its negative impact on Egyptian society. She emphasized the need to spread sportsmanship and acceptance of the other, and all forms of sport are a source of sophistication in different countries, and that this problem comes from the basis of upbringing, acceptance of the other, difference in opinion and respect for the other, and we .

In her turn, Prof. Nermin Nabil Al-Azraq, Head of the English Department, expressed in her speech her great welcome to the guests and her great happiness and constant encouragement for such activities, which come under the auspices of Prof. Dr. Hanan Junaid, Dean of the Faculty of Information, Cairo University, in partnership with the Department of Public Relations in the faculty. Under the auspices of Prof. Dalia Muhammad Abdullah, Head of the Department, she explained that the event aims to educate the public about such vital issues, and that the participation of students in organizing such activities contributes to developing their practical skills and refining their experiences, which qualifies them for the labor market, communication skills, and dealing with others.

The Head of the English Section at the Faculty of Mass Communication, Cairo University, stressed the necessity of applying media ethics controls decisively to the channels affiliated with the clubs to prevent them from deviating from the general context and obliging them not to attack or distort competitors, stressing the danger of complacency in accountability for the abuses that it is witnessing. The sports arena, including the sports media, creates an environment of intolerance and stirs up strife among young people, turning competition into conflict, enjoyment into battle, and sportsmanship into revenge. Also, Dr. Nermin Al-Azraq emphasised the necessity of shunning fanaticism, spreading love, and the value of unity because, in the end, “we must support Egypt”. .

In her turn, Prof. Dalia Abdullah, Head of the Public Relations and Advertising Department, said that sports fanaticism has been old since the seventies, but it was not like fanaticism in our current era. She added that what has increased fanaticism in recent times is social media and the decline of some media professionals behind the number of views.

In his speech, journalist Ahmed Abdel Basset gave a detailed explanation of the concept of fanaticism and its causes, which lie in the lack of sports awareness, insufficient knowledge of the true meanings of honorable sports competition, and selfishness (selfishness). Abdel Basset also stressed that the team`s love is for entertainment and not fanaticism.

For his part, the journalist and sports critic Mohamed Al-Qusi explained that sport is a win and a loss, and the full belief that sport is a means to make people happy and not to sow hatred among them. He also added that intolerance is one of the disastrous phenomena in society, and he said, "We have become in football that we hate each other more than we love each other." He also added that fanaticism is extreme extremism in love or hate, and that Fanaticism is linked to ignorance.

in their speech, Mr. Ahmed Al-Khudari added one of the tips, which is that we should educate the
new generation and urge them not to be intolerant. while Mr. Islam EI-Tahawy indicated that one of the causes of intolerance is social media, which is number one in the causes of intolerance. Children must be socialized to confront the phenomenon of intolerance, because intolerance can lead to death.

In the end, the seminar concluded that it is accurate to say that everyone has preferences and cheers for their team. This is an acquired right for everyone, but this love should stay within the bounds of the football game, which inevitably ends in victory or defeat. Also this love demonstrates sportsmanship and a belief in fair competition. It cannot bear the loss of life or health of a person because of the outcome of a game. .