BY: Dr. Hana Saada
A record-breaking program across 14 iconic sites, featuring Olympic champions, artistic festivities, and an ambitious vision for Algiers’ future
Algiers, Algeria | April 28th, 2025 — In a spectacular demonstration of its commitment to promoting sports, social cohesion, and urban vitality, Algiers is set to host the Second Edition of the Algiers Festival of Sports from May 1 to 3, 2025, across 14 carefully selected sites throughout the capital, marking a major leap forward in scale, ambition, and public engagement compared to its inaugural edition.
Launched in 2024 under the patronage of local authorities and with the support of the Ministry of the Interior, the Festival of Sports has quickly emerged as a flagship event aimed at transforming Algiers into a vibrant, inclusive, and dynamic capital city.
Expanded Reach, Greater Ambition
This year’s edition promises to be significantly larger, with over 120 sporting activities and more than 80 cultural and artistic events scheduled across urban parks, beaches, forests, and leisure spaces, turning the city into an open-air sporting arena. Notable locations include the Sablettes, Bainem Forest, the Jardin d’Essai, Oued El Harrach, the Ben Aknoun Zoological Park, the Douéra dam, and the new town of Sidi Abdallah.
Highlighting the festival’s prestige, a roster of Olympic and Paralympic champions such as Taoufik Makhloufi, Skander Djamil Athmani, and Brahim Guendouz have been appointed as event ambassadors, alongside celebrated artists and influencers including Khaled Benaissa and Nesrine Amrouche. Their presence is set to inspire young generations and reinforce the festival’s visibility.
Speaking during a detailed briefing, Yacine Siafi, Director of Youth and Sports (DJS) of the Wilaya of Algiers, emphasized:
“The Festival of Sports of Algiers is now a registered trademark. Our objective is to establish it as an annual gathering, enhancing Algiers’ visibility and restoring its rightful place among the great capitals of the Mediterranean, to which it has nothing to envy. This second edition is bolder, richer, and more inspiring.”
Siafi outlined four major objectives for the festival:
-Showcase Algiers’ sporting, urban, and natural spaces to boost territorial attractiveness;
-Establish a sustainable dynamic by ensuring the continuity of activities throughout the year;
-Promote social integration and strengthen collective ties;
-Highlight local athletes and inspire future generations.
He also stressed the importance of showcasing the colossal investments made by the state in modernizing and enhancing the capital’s infrastructure.
A Massive Public Celebration
The festival’s organizational team, including senior advisers to the Wali of Algiers, Ali Mokrani and Reda Doumi, aims to surpass last year’s impressive attendance figure of nearly one million visitors.
This year, one and a half million visitors are anticipated over the three-day weekend, which coincides with a public holiday, allowing a broader audience, including schoolchildren, to participate fully.
“The first edition was a resounding success. This year, we come back stronger, offering a wide-ranging program targeting an audience from 7 months to 70 years old,” stated Reda Doumi, emphasizing the festival’s inclusive and dynamic vision for Algiers.
Among the new highlights are two particularly moving competitions:
-A baby race for children aged over 7 months;
-A race for children with Down syndrome, affirming the festival’s spirit of inclusiveness.
Moreover, special attention will be given to school sports and handisport (sports for people with disabilities), reflecting a broader societal commitment to diversity and accessibility.
Logistical Excellence for a Seamless Experience
On the logistics front, Ali Mokrani confirmed that transport to the various sites will be free of charge, ensuring easy access for all citizens. Activities will begin daily at 8 AM and continue until 6 PM, offering an extensive range of activities in a safe, well-structured environment.
The event’s opening ceremony will be held on the morning of May 1, attended by several ministers and prominent sporting personalities, who will visit the various competition venues, lending even greater prestige to the festival.
Meticulous efforts are being personally supervised by the Governor of Algiers, Mohamed Abdennour Rabhi, who is closely overseeing all preparations to ensure the festival’s resounding success and to reflect the capital’s new dynamic image.
An International Dimension
In a clear indication of the festival’s growing ambitions, Yacine Siafi announced plans to give certain events an international dimension, notably the crossing of Algiers Bay and the Algiers City Marathon, attracting global attention and further strengthening Algiers’ international stature.
Through this ambitious festival, Algiers is not only celebrating sports but affirming its dynamic spirit, its ability to bring together communities, and its ambition to stand proudly among the great capitals of the Mediterranean and beyond.
