Who is Mohammad Samah Hamad, the Minister of Sports and Youth in the new Syrian government?

The Syrian Transitional Government has appointed **Mohammed Sameh Hamad** as the Minister of Sports and Youth in the new government lineup aimed at rebuilding institutions and enhancing the role of youth in the country's future. This appointment comes amidst the urgent need to reform the sports sector after years of neglect and decline. **Who is Mohammed Sameh Hamad?** Mohammed Sameh Hamad, born in **Kafr Takharim**, Idlib countryside, is a well-known figure in Syrian sports circles. He started his career as a **basketball player** before transitioning to administrative work, playing an active role in developing sports activities in areas outside the regime's control in recent years. **Notable Administrative Record in Sports** In **2020**, Mohammed Hamad assumed the position of **Director of the Youth and Sports Directorate** in the "Rescue Government" in Idlib. In a short period, he made a qualitative leap in the sports sector, organizing sports leagues with high organizational and administrative standards, including improving refereeing, preparing stadiums, and enhancing broadcast quality, earning praise from athletes and fans alike. Later on, Hamad was tasked with temporarily managing the **General Sports Federation**, where he embarked on restructuring several sports federations and oversaw developmental meetings, notably with the **Football Federation**, laying out a comprehensive plan for reforming Syrian sports. **Priorities of the New Minister of Sports** As the newly appointed Minister of Sports and Youth in the new Syrian government, Mohammed Hamad is expected to focus on: - **Rebuilding sports infrastructure** in affected cities. - **Training sports and administrative personnel** in line with modern standards. - **Fighting sports corruption** that plagued sports institutions in the past. - **Launching youth initiatives** to enhance the role of youth in public work and local development. - **Representing Syria regionally and internationally** in a manner befitting the aspirations of Syrian athletes. **A New Direction for Sports in Syria** Observers see the appointment of a field figure like Mohammed Sameh Hamad in the Ministry of Sports and Youth as an indication of a new direction towards an **independent civil sports** based on efficiency and transparency, away from the political influence that dominated the sports sector in previous decades.