Amman, May 16 (Petra) -- Participants in the closing session of Tawasol 2026 Forum called for transforming Jordan's sports sector from an amateur model into a professional, investment-driven industry capable of generating sustainable economic returns.

The session, titled "Beyond Competition: The Next Step Toward Building a Jordanian Sports Industry," brought together officials and experts, including Minister of Youth Raed Adwan and Deputy Secretary General of the Jordan Football Association Fleih Al-Daja.

Adwan stressed the importance of applying sound governance principles in managing sports clubs, noting that a committee has been formed to study ways to privatize clubs and expand investment in their sporting activities.

He said investment in sports clubs contributes significantly to gross domestic product in advanced sporting nations such as the United Kingdom and Italy. Jordanian clubs, by contrast, were established under a patronage-based system that relied heavily on government subsidies, making a gradual transition to more sustainable investment models essential, he said.

Adwan said Jordan has six sports cities and 22 sports complexes, underscoring the importance of clubs owning their own stadiums and developing related investments to create stable revenue streams.

He added that the Ministry of Youth is upgrading youth centers to serve as safe spaces for nurturing talent, particularly in sports, through partnerships with the Jordan Olympic Committee and various sports federations. Current programs include Taekwondo, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and five-a-side football.

The minister said the ministry has revived Prince Ali Centers for Young Talent, leveraging youth center infrastructure and staffing to support their programs. He added that the National Youth Strategy for 2026-2030, now being prepared, will include a dedicated pillar focused on sports.

Al-Daja said empowering clubs is a fundamental step toward developing the sports sector and noted that the Jordan Football Association has embraced this approach since 2022.

He said club privatization will not succeed without spending caps aligned with revenues and without creating a supportive administrative environment staffed by specialists in marketing, financial management and accounting.

The session, moderated by sports journalist Muhannad Mahadin, concluded that building a competitive Jordanian sports industry will require coordinated efforts by the public and private sectors and long-term strategic planning, beginning with the development of young talent and culminating in a professional sports ecosystem built on sustainable administrative and financial foundations.

//Petra// AF