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Youth and Sports
Since the early years of the 7th November, 1987 Change, Tunisia has capitalized on youth being the country's inexhaustible
wealth. Tunisia has worked to consolidate dialogue with this faction of society making of it the base of the country's
political, cultural, educational, social, sports and entertainment policies. Young people remain at the heart of
all development plans. The Change Era has been characterized by a strong will for the rationalization of youth
action hence the setting up of the appropriate structures for reflection, and analysis of youth issues.
Advanced infrastructure and programs that meet young people's expectations:
During the era of the Change, youth policies in Tunisia have focused on a prospective vision which makes of the
aspirations and expectations of young people, the pillars of the state's future plans and programs in light of
the findings and projections of the three successive youth consultations (1996-2000 & 2005).
This choice was confirmed by the proclamation of 2008 as the year of Comprehensive Dialogue with Tunisian Youth.
The Dialogue was crowned by the signing of national youth pact with the participation of youth associations and
young representatives of the country's political parties.
That is how the government proceeded to setting up a diversified infrastructure which has favoured the blooming
of young talents focusing on their concerns and seeking to provide them with the new information and communication
technologies. Besides the quantitative improvements recorded at the level of youth centres whose number went up
from 131 in 1987 to 293 in 2007, the role of such institutions has been further consolidated through the setting
up of a national youth centres upgrading program (a plan implemented during the 10th Development Program period).
Within the same context, new computer, internet, foreign languages and information centres have equally been created
delivering services to young people in all parts of the country.
The ministry of youth, sports and physical education has equally engaged in the realization of a national plan
for the development of activities. Since 2004, this plan involved the creation of 105 recreation centres in youth
centres.
On another level, and in order to meet young people's hopes for a developed infrastructure in line with the requirements
and the spirit of the age, large scale projects have been launched to construct youth compounds in Sfax, Sidi
Bouzid, Gafsa, Kairouan, Kasserine, Sidi Hssine (Tunis) and El Kef.
The future international youth centre to be built in Borj Cedria (Governorate of Ben Arous) will undoubtedly be
a source of pride as another jewel added to the crown made up of blossoming youth centres and facilities. The centre
will have as a mission promoting youth tourism and international meetings within the general program to encourage
Tunisian young people to open up to the outside world, promote the values of tolerance and fraternity.
As far as developing youth tourism is concerned, the number of youth hostels has increased from 18 in 1987 to 28
in 2007 while camping sites and youth camps went up from 9 to 24 during the same period.
In order to promote new information and communication technologies and develop a digital culture, the ministry
has acquired nine internet buses two of which are already operational.
Similarly, and in order to promote projects for the creation of entertainment centres, the government provided
incentives to young entrepreneurs and investors in this sector by providing land lots for the symbolic price of
one dinar.
- The National Youth Observatory
By decision of the President of the Republic, announced on March 21, 2002, a National Youth Observatory was set
up whose mission would be monitoring youth concerns by running regular consultations aimed at modulating development
plans. This observatory reflects the will of the government to coach young people, share their concerns and expectations.
This is reflected in the large body of literature and prospective studies.
During the last few years, the observatory focused essentially on the need to consolidate the mission and role
of information and communication by being attuned to the needs of the various youth categories reflecting their
aspirations to find practical information and providing them with the opportunities to use the numerous mechanisms
and encouragements provided by the national community in all the sectors of social life.
Sports
During the last 21 years, Tunisian sports have witnessed important mutations at all levels and in all domains involving
the vulgarization of sports, performance and infrastructure development. Interest given to this key sector included
the legislative framework as a number of laws have been promulgated mainly the Law dated August 3, 1994 providing
for the organization and promotion of physical education activities, the Law dated February 6, 1995 involving the
restructuring of sports federations and providing the modalities of their membership and financing sports structures.
Other decisions and presidential measures benefiting the sector testify to the will to give sports the privileged
place it has always had in the State's plans. Of these measures we can mention:
- The setting up of a higher sports council 'Decree 483-2003) and National Sports Observatory (Decree 752-2003).
- Developing the National Sports Medical Care and Sciences Centre
- Promoting higher educational levels by providing for doctoral education degrees in sports sciences and techniques
- The setting up of a National Training and Re-Training Centre for sports officials and administrators (Decree
2127-2003)
- Instituting the President of the Republic's Award for the promotion of sports facilities
- The promulgation of the specific statutes of elite athletes (2005)
- Instituting the President of the Republic's Award for the best company providing support to personnel in the
practice of sports activities (Decree 30 May 2006).
Tunisian sports have achieved international levels of excellence proudly making Tunisia well-known at regional
and international levels thanks essentially to good performance and achievements as well as the good organization
of important high-level international competitions hosted by the country.
In terms of civil sports structures, the State has developed and organized association work taking into consideration
the impact they have on youth education. The number of associations has thus increased from 439 in 1987 to 654
in 2007 to which we add 302 sports clubs operating within the framework of youth centres and private sports centres
activities. The number of license holders in the various domains of sports activities has increased considerably
totaling 114.785 in 2007 compared to 68.500 in 1987 marking an increase of 67.42% in twenty years.
President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali issued instructions
on April 10th 1996 for the setting up of a national plan for the promoting of elite sports aimed at ensuring preparations
for national teams by providing the best possible conditions for success in regional and international competitions.
Initially, the sports included in this plan were football, handball, volley ball, boxing, judo, swimming and athletics.
Upgrading this plan, the State worked on the creation of national centres to prepare elite athletes in accordance
with the objectives of a modern methodology and clear scientific criteria and procedures with short, medium and
long term objectives. The first objectives included achieving leadership on the African and Arab levels in a number
of sports and achieving international competitiveness standards in a number of activities such as boxing, athletics,
football, hand ball and volley ball.
- The national elite and international achievements
The plan for the future has been giving its results
in a progressive way. These results are reflected clearly in the achievements of various sports from 2002 to 2007
which could be summed as follows:
- 383 medals in 2001: 155 gold, 92 silver and 136 bronze
- 570 medals in 2002: 174 gold, 191 silver and 205 bronze
- 614 medals in 2003: 225 gold, 202 silver and 187 bronze (+ 7.71)
- 647 medals in 2004: 252 gold, 203 silver and 192 bronze (+5.37)
- 742 medals in 2005: 300 gold, 231 silver and 211 bronze, marking an increase of 14.07% in comparison with the
previous year and +93.7% with 2001, an important year marking the end of the national plan for the preparation
of elite athletes and the beginning of a future-focused plan for the development of sports.
In football, the national seniors' team qualified three times successively to the World Cup Finals (France 1998,
Japan-Korea 2002 and Germany 2006). Tunisia equally won, for the first time, the Africa Cup of Nations (Tunis 2004).
Another first time achievement was equally the qualification to the second round of the U-17 World Championship
held in South Korea in August 2007.
In handball, Tunisia has participated regularly in the World Championship Finals with six successive participations
from 1995 to 2005 compared to one single participation before 1987. In 2005, the national handball squad ranked
among the golden four of the World Championship finals held in Tunisia for the first time.
In 2006, the national handball team won a Seventh African title during the finals held in Tunis and ranked second
in the World Cup held in Sweden that same year.
In women's basket ball, the national team was crowned African Champion five times: 1987, 1995, 1997, 1999 and 2003)
and four times Arab World Champion: 1988, 1996, 2000 and 2002. The national women's basketball team was equally
a gold winner in the Amman Arab finals in 1999 and a silver winner in the Mediterranean games in 2001.
- Major international competitions hosted by Tunisia since the Change
Since 1987, Tunisia has had the honour to host a number of international, continent-level and regional events.
Of these major events we cite the Africa Cup of Nations Finals in 1994 and 2004, the African Hand ball Cup in 1994
and 2004, the Mediterranean Games in 2001, The African Seniors, Juniors and U-17 Athletics in 2002, Men's Handball
World Cup Finals in 2005, Women's World Basket Ball Cup finals for U-20 in 2005 and the African Nations Handball
Finals for men and women seniors in 2006.
Women's sports benefited from the constant solicitude of President Ben Ali reflecting the privileged place women
have always had in all social projects and plans since the Change of 1987. This attentiveness is reflected in a
number of initiatives which have been taken since 1987 namely:
- Allocating 10% of the sports lotto revenues to promoting women's sports
- Strengthening the presence of Tunisian young girls in sports clubs and associations in both individual and collective
sports of all types
- Exonerating women's sports associations and women's sections from federation affiliation fees
Women's sports have acquired a number of positive indicators.
The number of license holders progressed by 424%
in 15 years going up from 4.265 in 1991 to 22.358 in 2005. During the same period, the number of women's sports
associations progressed from 20 to 54 marking a leap of +170% and the trend was similar for women's sections in
established pluri-disciplinary sports associations. We equally notice that women's achievements at the international
level stand for 42% of the total medals brought home by the national sports elite in international competitions.
The Tunisian woman has equally consolidated her key role and distinguished place in leading positions at international
and national levels with 122 coaches and officials.
- Athletes with disabilities:
The practice of various sports by individuals with disabilities has equally been the subject of continuous support.
A Tunisian Federation of Athletes with Disabilities was set up on December 3, 1987 with the mission of promoting
the practice of different forms of sports by individuals with disabilities regardless of the types and degrees
of these disabilities.
Sports for athletes with disabilities witnessed an important development in Tunisia where the number of sports
associations went up from 24 in 1991 to 131 in 2005 while the number of license holders went up from 426 to 3794
during the same period.
Results did not take long to appear at both regional and international levels. In the World Championship in France
2002 Tunisian athletes won 16 medals. In 2004, the harvest was even better with 48 medals (World Championship and
Paralympics).
In the World Championship held in Holland in 2006, Tunisian athletes won 19 medals one of which was gold. 15 among
these athletes qualified for the Beijing Paralympics 2008.
Since 1987, Tunisia has witnessed the emergence of new traditions and practices in the field of sports outside
official competition which reflect and have helped build up awareness of the importance of sports and physical
activities for daily health and well being. During the 2004-2005 season, 830 associations affiliated to the National
Culture, Sports and Labour Organisation compared to 28 associations in 1972.
Besides the creation of a National Federation of Sports for All, a national plan was set up in 2003 upon recommendations
made by President Ben Ali aimed at creating jogging tracks in all towns. 460 projects were scheduled to which we
add 17 tracks completed during the Xth Plan period. It was equally decided to create sports fields near educational
institutions. 631 fields were completed and we are witnessing the development of private fitness centres whose
number totalled 405 centres set up by private investors.
Physical Education:
The Tunisian sports policy has favoured the development of a national physical education apparatus, a key choice
made by the government since the Change in 1987. Tunisia disposes of a number of plans and programs aimed at promoting
this activity such as the national plan for the development of physical education and sports activities, the national
plan for the management and maintenance of sports fields and premises in primary schools and the national plan
for sports fields near educational institutions providing for the setting up of 500 fields of this type in all
the country's regions. Particular efforts have been made to increase the rate of sports coaching in basic and secondary
education schools implementing the right of all students to the practice of sports. In 2001 and in 2002, President
Ben Ali ordered the recruitment of all higher physical education and sports institutes' graduates as teachers of
physical education.
- Sports in schools and universities:
Physical education and sports in schools and universities benefited from President Ben Ali's continuous support
thanks to an increasingly supportive legal framework reflected in the numerous decisions and measures enhancing
them and reflecting awareness of their importance and educational role as an indicator, among other indicators
in our contemporary world, of the degree of evolution of our society. Within these views, the Ministry of Youth,
Sports and Physical Education has set up, in coordination with other ministries involved, programs and plans aimed
at putting into practice the legislature and orientations made up of the Law 1994-104 dated 3 August 1994 providing
for the organization and development of physical education and sports activities as well as Law 2002-80 dated 23
July 2002 on education and school education.
The number of sports associations in schools and universities went up from 1893 in 2005 to 2322 in 2008. The number
of license holders went up from 281.905 to 345.272 and that of types of sports practiced from 13 to 23 including
both individual and collective sports.
On the other hand, within the framework of implementing President Ben Ali's program to generalize physical education
in primary schools, 961 associations were set up out of a total of 1635 where physical education is provided (2007-2008
figures).
Olympics culture and education clubs were equally set up in implementation of presidential programs announced on
July 8, 2002 on the day of the National Sports and Olympics Spirit Day celebrations. Eight clubs of this type have
been founded in primary schools in the various governorates where sports associations are active. A school sports
merit award is attributed yearly on the occasion of celebrations of Knowledge Day to winning students practicing
sports at schools.
- Training and Scientific Research in the field of Sports and Physical Education:
The years 1989 and 1990 have been an important phase in restructuring institutions with the transfer of the Ecole
Normale Supérieure d'Education Physique et Sportive to the Institut Supérieur des Sports et de l'Education
Physique (INEPS) in Ksar Said and the Ecole Normale des Instituteurs d'Education Physique et Sportive to the Institut
Supérieur d'Education Physique et des Sports in Sfax besides the creation of a similar institute in El Kef
in December 1990.
In order to develop training and make it meet great ambitions and expectations, Tunisia has sought since the Change
to be alert to international mutations seeking to find the means to preserve and consolidate the achievements in
this field.
The increasing number of higher education sports and physical education graduates is the immediate result of the
large number of enrolled students but also the increasing need for qualified staff and teachers capable of offering
a quality education in primary, secondary and higher education institutions. The number of graduates from specialized
institutes has equally increased and so did the number of enrolled students in these fields of study.
The areas of study in these higher education institutes have been diversified and postgraduate studies are being
offered encouraging research and higher level training in theory and practice. In this respect, the INEPS has qualified
to deliver the following postgraduate qualifications
- MA in the sciences and technologies of physical education and sports since 1996.
- PhD in the same filed since 2002
- INEPS-Kef equally ensures training at MA level in the same broad field since 2001-2002 and that of Sfax since
2004-2005.
- An improving infrastructure
Reflecting the attention President Ben Ali has always granted to youth, the State has engaged since the Change
in the expansion, improvement and development of infrastructure. During the last two decades, the State's efforts
were behind the emergence of a modern infrastructure providing the framework for the development of sports and
athletes helping them develop their talents.
During the period 1987-2007, Tunisian sports have achieved an important quality level in a variety of fields. Today,
all the regions, no matter how remote they are, dispose of modern sports facilities. The infrastructure provided
is characterized by its scope and diversity meeting the increasing demand for state-of-the-art equipment and infrastructure
and facilities in all sports for all categories. The number of gymnasiums went up from 7 in 1987 to 126 in 2007,
that of stadiums with grass pitches increased from 23 to 161 with artificial grass preferred to other forms for
practical and maintenance reasons. During the same period, 10 athletics tartan tracks were developed compared to
only 2 before 1987. To this infrastructure we add three regional athletics centres, one national athletics centre
and six covered swimming pools.
The gem of this infrastructure remains undoubtedly the Rades 7 November Sports Compound, a mega- project with a
state of the art football stadium seating 60.000, three practice fields and one all-sports gymnasium seating 14.000.
This infrastructure has been further enriched by the development of a network of sports medicine and sciences centres
on both the quantitative and qualitative levels. After 7 November 1987; the government created a national sports
medicine and sciences centre and eight similar regional and inter-regional centres offering quality services to
athletes all over the country.
At the same time, the State has worked on encouraging private investments in the field of sports as a promising
sector offering important opportunities for the creation of jobs. This choice was behind the emergence of an important
network of private fitness centres totaling 443, as well as a large number of training and sports centres.
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