Nepal Sports Journalists Forum

International Sports Press Association (AIPS) and Asian Sports Press Union (ASPU) have officially recognized Nepal Sports Journalists Forum (NSJF) as a member on Wednesday during the Annual Congress at Bregenz, Austria.

AIPS President Gianni Merlo pronounced NSJF as the representative organization from Nepal on the second day of the 70th Congress. “I have lots of hope from NSJF because this is the association with really energetic and young sports journalists,” he said.

He also made commitment to help NSJF in every aspect of sports journalism and showed his interest in visiting Nepal. “Hopefully, I will be there during the annual Player of the Year Award Ceremony,” he added.

Earlier in the morning, ASPU accepted Nepal as the 31st member in the continental meeting at the Festive House. ASPU President Park Kap Chul praised NSJF’s report presented by president Niranjan Rajbanshi.

“I know NSJF is one of the most active associations even before it had been officially accepted by AIPS and ASPU,” the South Korean said. “I congrats NSJF and hope that they will continue their good run.”

Along with NSJF, sports associations from Gambia, Montenegro, Oman, Zambia, Haitiens, Paraguay and Serbia were recognized as new members. In the week-long Congress, 108 countries - including 21 Asian nations - are participating.

Earlier on the first day, Austria’s Federal Chancellor, Dr Alfred Gusenbauer, along
with Merlo officially opened the Congress. In his opening address, Dr Gusenbauer, who is also the sports minister, said: “Sports journalists must be responsible in reporting the facts on issues such as doping.”

Dr Gusenbauer also emphasized the duty of the media to encourage peace through sport and added that the Austrian government supported Salzburg’s bid to host the 2014 Winter Olympic Games.

Nepal Sports Journalists Forum (NSJF) successfully mediated the talks between the National Republic Sports Organization – Nepal (NSRON) and the government ending the two-week padlock at the National Sports Council (NSC) – the umbrella organization of the sports association.

NRSON unlocked the office of NSC on March 1 following the agreement committed with the Education and Sports Minister Mangal Siddhi Manandhar a day earlier after a 90-minute talk mediated by NSJF.

Similarly, the coaches and NSC employees who have locked the Dasrath Stadium protesting the lockup by the NRSON also unlocked the doors after a brief talk with the minister on March 1 morning.

Their delegation met with the minister in the morning and put forward their demands to ensure no more lockup at NSC to which Manandar responded positively. NSJF also arranged mediated the meeting.

NRSON had locked up NSC demanding the resignation of member-secretary Jeevan Ram Shrestha accusing the latter of mis-management. NRSON dropped the demand and agreed on corrections.

During the talk Shiva Subedi led the NRSON team that included Hukum Raj Giri, Rana Sangram Bista, Kalsan Giri, Mahesh Maharjan and Surendra Koirala.

From mediating NSJF, president Niranjan Rajbanshi, secretary Mahesh Acharya, spokesperson Ajay Phuyal, member Prakash Timilsina and Ujjwal Acharya participated in the talks.

The lockup had halted all the sporting events at the NSC premises and National League football at the stadium.