AIPS President Gianni Merlo poses with the African journalists and Oliver Hegglin, Assistant to the Special Envoy for the Sahel. Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) in front of the AIPS Headquarters in Lausanne (Photo by Stefania Baraldo/AIPS)
LAUSANNE, July 25, 2025 – On Monday, July 21, 2025, the President of the International Sports Press Association (AIPS), Gianni Merlo, welcomed a delegation of sports journalists from several Sahel countries, including Benin, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, and Chad, to the organization’s headquarters in Lausanne.
This visit was part of a professional stay organized for the 2025 Women’s Euro, at the initiative of Cédrine Berney, Special Envoy of the Peace and Human Rights Division of the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), in collaboration with the Hirondelle Foundation.
The journalists engaged directly with President Merlo to better understand the missions and activities of AIPS. Merlo emphasized the importance of such a meeting in strengthening ties between the organization and African sports media professionals.
Merlo presented the history of AIPS, founded in July 1924, and recalled the foundations of its commitment: strengthening cooperation between member associations, defending the professional independence of sports journalists, promoting their rights, and improving their working conditions. “AIPS works every day to create an environment conducive to free, ethical, and quality sports journalism,” he said.
During the discussion, several initiatives led by AIPS were highlighted, including the Young Reporters Programme, which offers training opportunities to young sports journalism talents, as well as the AIPS Sport Media Awards, a prestigious competition that, since 2018, has recognized journalistic excellence worldwide. Salamatou Kadri, a journalist from Niger and the only woman in the delegation, shared her experience as a finalist at the last AIPS Sport Media Awards, where she placed 6th on the African continent.
President Merlo also addressed the current challenges facing the profession, particularly with the emergence of artificial intelligence and the proliferation of fake news. “Journalism is in danger. It is essential to redouble our rigour and professionalism to preserve the credibility of our profession,” he emphasized, while reiterating the need to adapt to digital transformation.
He concluded on a hopeful note, looking to the future. “Africa has immense potential with its young generation of journalists. The future of sports journalism also depends on you. Continue to train and professionalize yourselves,” he advised.
“This moment was not only inspiring, but it also served to highlight the importance of an organization that supports professionals in a sometimes difficult environment,” said Salamatou Kadri of Studio Kalangou Niger.
For Martin Kaba, a journalist at Studio Yafa in Burkina Faso, this meeting was rich in lessons. “AIPS is an essential organization that illuminates our path as journalists. It reminds us that sport is a powerful lever for peace, social cohesion, and inclusion, particularly for women,” he said.
“I was impressed by the clarity of AIPS’s operations and the quality of the discussions. This visit allowed me to better understand the organization’s values and missions,” said Nouhoun Adamou Biaou of Radio Solidarité FM in Djougou. These journalists also covered the 2025 Women’s Euro semi-final match between England and Italy.