The President of the Republic, Kaïs Saïed, received the Minister of Youth and Sports, Sadok Mourali, on Friday to take stock of the agreement concluded with China for the redevelopment of the El Menzah Olympic stadium. Beyond the project, the head of state delivered a virulent attack against corruption and abuses in the sports sector, calling for a complete overhaul of the system.
During this meeting at the Carthage Palace, Kaïs Saïed welcomed the signing of the memorandum of understanding between Tunisia and the Chinese International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA). The agreement concerns the project to modernize the El Menzah Olympic stadium, work on which will begin at the beginning of 2026.
The president insisted that this infrastructure, emblematic of Tunisian sporting heritage, retain its historical character while benefiting from modern equipment – renovated stands, electronic scoreboards, circuits and cutting-edge technical spaces. He ordered immediate repairs throughout the Olympic City of El Menzah, referring to a place where “sport once rhymed with art”.
A heritage threatened by lobbies and corruption
Kaïs Saïed recalled that the Olympic City, built in the 1960s for the Mediterranean Games, has long been the target of demolition or privatization attempts. He cited other similar examples: the Chedly Zouiten stadium, the Belvédère park, the El Manar campus and the municipal swimming pool on Place Pasteur.
The head of state referred to the decree he had issued to suspend the redevelopment work of El Menzah after the discovery of a corruption file, claiming to have “averted a catastrophe” and prevented the squandering of public funds.
Purge the sector and ban questionable practices
Faced with the deterioration of sports infrastructures, Kaïs Saïed called for lasting maintenance of the installations and for sanctioning “anyone who commits a crime against the people”, including in the sporting field. He announced the preparation of a bill on sports structures, reaffirming his intention to clean up a “hybrid” system which is based neither on true professionalism nor on healthy amateurism.
The president also denounced brokerage practices and fictitious recruitment of foreign players, described as “crimes” damaging the image of Tunisian sport.
Read also
