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Under the patronage of Prof. Mohamed Diaa Zain El-Abedeen, President of Ain Shams University, the University welcomed the torch of the 12th African Universities Games (Cairo 2026) in a major celebration that highlighted Ain Shams University’s prominent standing and pivotal role in supporting university sports and strengthening ties among young people across the African continent. The event comes as part of Egypt’s preparations to host the Games from September 8 to 16, 2026.

Prof. Rami Maher Ghali, Vice President of the University for Education and Student Affairs, attended the launch ceremony of the torch relay at the University’s main campus, in the presence of Prof. Mamdouh El-Sayed Ahmed, Executive Director of the Egyptian University Sports Federation; Prof. Farid Moharram, Dean of the Faculty of Business; Prof. Rasha Ismail, Dean of the Faculty of Computer and Information Sciences; Prof. Yassin El-Shazly, Dean of the Faculty of Law; Prof. Heba Shaheen, Dean of the Faculty of Mass Communication; Prof. Amr Shaat, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering; Prof. Rehab Othman, Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy; Prof. Yomna Safwat, Dean of the Faculty of Al-Alsun (Languages); Prof. Dalia Hussein Fahmy, Acting Dean of the Faculty of Specific Education; as well as faculty vice deans, the University Secretary-General, the Head of the Central Administration of the University President’s Sector, the Assistant Secretary-General for the Education and Student Affairs Sector, and Dr. Samar Ragab, General Coordinator of the Students for Egypt Family, alongside a large gathering of University students and members of the Students for Egypt Family.

Organized by the Education and Student Affairs Sector under the theme “The Torch Brings Us Together... Ain Shams University Creates the Moment,” the celebration reflected the University’s readiness to play an active role in ensuring the success of this major continental event. It also reaffirmed Ain Shams University’s standing as one of Egypt’s leading universities, with the capacity to host and organize major sporting events to the highest organizational and technical standards.

The torch relay launch ceremony was held under the supervision and coordination of Mr. Ibrahim Saeed, Assistant Secretary-General of the University for the Education and Student Affairs Sector, amid a festive atmosphere blending sports, culture, and Egyptian identity. The event conveyed a clear message that hosting Cairo 2026 goes beyond athletic competition, serving as a platform for interaction, dialogue, and building bridges of friendship among African university students.

Torch Relay Begins

The celebration began in the courtyard in front of Al-Zafaran Palace with the participants’ procession, led by karate champion Hamza Ahmed Sayed Ahmed, a student at the Faculty of Business, carrying the torch in a parade inspired by ancient Egyptian civilization, while attendees followed the torch relay via a live broadcast.

The ceremony featured a range of sporting and cultural performances, including a Kata demonstration that combined athletic prowess with the richness of cultural identity. The performance underscored that the Cairo 2026 torch symbolizes more than the start of sporting competitions; it carries a broader message of African unity and brings the continent’s youth together through sports, education, and culture.

The torch handover ceremony then took place, with Prof. Rami Maher Ghali, Vice President of the University for Education and Student Affairs, receiving the torch before handing it over to judo champion Farida Magdy Aboul Azayem, a student at the Faculty of Business, marking the start of its journey across the University before proceeding to the next stop on its tour of Egyptian universities.

On the sidelines of the celebration, the Vice President and attendees toured the Students for Egypt Family’s art studio, reflecting the University’s commitment to supporting student activities, discovering talent, and providing students with diverse opportunities for creativity and participation.

Ain Shams University’s hosting of the torch holds particular significance given the major role the University will play in Cairo 2026. Its facilities and sports venues will host a substantial portion of the Games’ competitions, covering 13 major sports, including team sports, swimming, racket sports, fencing, chess, and modern pentathlon, in addition to several Paralympic sports.

The Games are among the largest university sporting gatherings on the African continent, bringing together around 2,000 athletes and officials representing 81 universities from 18 African countries. Participants will compete in 18 major sports, alongside three recreational sports and four Paralympic sports, in an event that brings together athletics, education, culture, and engagement among Africa’s youth.

“Connecting the Peoples of Africa Is No Longer a Luxury, but a Necessity for Building a Shared Future”

In his address during the celebration, Prof. Rami Maher Ghali conveyed the greetings of Prof. Mohamed Diaa Zain El-Abidin, President of Ain Shams University, stressing that welcoming the torch of the 12th African Universities Games represents an important symbolic moment that reflects the power of sport to unite the continent’s youth around the values of fair competition, cooperation, and friendship.

He emphasized that communication among the peoples of Africa is no longer a luxury, but a necessity for building a shared future, noting that universities are among the most important bridges for strengthening such connections and fostering lasting relationships among new generations across the continent.

He added that Cairo 2026, held with the participation of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the African University Sports Federation, and the Egyptian University Sports Federation, offers a genuine model of integration through a major African event that brings together sports, education, and culture while reflecting the deep-rooted ties between Egypt and its fellow African nations.

He noted that extending the Games’ activities to include scientific and cultural dimensions alongside sporting competitions opens broader horizons for dialogue and the exchange of knowledge and expertise, while providing African university students with an opportunity to build academic and personal relationships that can continue and develop long after the competitions conclude.

The Vice President expressed Ain Shams University’s pride in playing an active role in this continental event and in welcoming the Cairo 2026 torch as a symbol of knowledge, sport, friendship, and the unity of a continent whose peoples share a common history, a present they are building together, and a future to which they aspire through greater cooperation and integration.

He stressed that selecting Ain Shams University as one of the host universities for the Games reflects confidence in its organizational capabilities and its well-equipped infrastructure and sports facilities. It also embodies the University’s role as a leading Egyptian institution whose mission extends beyond education and scientific research to strengthening engagement with Africa and supporting Egypt’s presence across the continent.

He explained that the University has raised the readiness level of its sports fields, halls, and facilities, providing the necessary technical equipment and organizational services in accordance with the requirements of each sport. These preparations aim to ensure that the competitions are delivered to a standard befitting the stature of Egypt and Ain Shams University, while providing an outstanding experience for Egypt’s guests from across the African continent.

For his part, Prof. Mamdouh El-Sayed Ahmed, Executive Director of the Egyptian University Sports Federation, expressed his pleasure at joining Ain Shams University students for the torch relay celebration and wished all participants success in the Games.

One Torch Uniting an Entire Continent

The Games’ official program begins with the arrival and reception of delegations on September 7, 2026, while sporting competitions officially commence on September 9 and continue through September 16. The opening ceremony will be held at Cairo Stadium, while the African Scientific Conference will take place on September 11 and 12.

Throughout its journey, the Cairo 2026 torch carries a message that extends far beyond the sporting arena: one torch uniting an entire continent, with young people building new bridges of friendship and cooperation through sport.

By welcoming the torch and preparing to host a major portion of the competitions, Ain Shams University reaffirms its position at the heart of this major African event and its ability to serve as a leading Egyptian platform bringing together the continent’s youth and as an active partner in shaping the future of African university sports.