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Sidon Municipality inaugurates the 7th Ramadan Popular Clubs Tournament in Sidon
Sidon Municipality – Media Office

Fox Stadium witnessed yesterday, Friday, a distinguished sporting atmosphere at the opening of the 7th Ramadan Popular Clubs Tournament, amid broad official and public attendance reflecting the importance of this long-standing Ramadan sporting event, which is sponsored by Sidon Municipality.

The ceremony was attended by the Mayor of Sidon, Mr. Mustafa Hijazi, Municipal Council members Mr. Youssef Taama and Mr. Khaled Afara, Head of the Municipality’s Youth and Sports Committee, Sheikh Dr. Iyad Abu Al-Ardat, Head of the Sidon and Surroundings Popular Clubs Association, Dr. Bassam Hammoud, Head of the Political Bureau of the Islamic Group, Mr. Hussein Bawab representing MP Osama Saad, Mr. Mazen Hashisho representing Ms. Bahia Hariri, Brigadier General Ghaleb Al-Saleh, Mr. Ayman Hawash, Head of the Sidon and Surroundings Academies Association, Bilal Al-Ali, Director of Relations in the Palestinian Youth and Sports Institution, Abu Khaled Abu Moussa, Head of the Prisoners and Wounded Committee, and several other sports and social figures.

The event began with the entrance of the two teams, Al-Ikhweh and Hittin, followed by the Lebanese and Palestinian national anthems. The ceremony was hosted by Ms. Sabine Afara, who delivered a welcoming speech, followed by a speech from Mayor Mustafa Hijazi, who welcomed the attendees and emphasized the importance of popular tournaments in strengthening sportsmanship and social cohesion, praising the activities organized by the Popular Clubs Association and reaffirming the Municipality’s continued support for athletes in Sidon and its surroundings.

Sheikh Dr. Iyad Abu Al-Ardat then delivered a speech congratulating attendees on the holy month of Ramadan, thanking Sidon Municipality for its continued sponsorship, and reviewing the history of the annual Ramadan tournament, which began in the 1990s at the Martyrs of Sidon Stadium (Al-Rahibat).

The ceremony concluded with a speech by Mr. Khaled Afara, Head of the Youth Committee, who said: “In this month of goodness and blessing, we gather not only to compete, but to renew the values of love, respect, and sportsmanship. Sports in Sidon have always been and will remain a space for unity and connection, and we must all preserve this noble message so that our fields remain arenas of ethics before being arenas of competition.”