French minister backs FIA anti-abuse campaign

FIA chief meets with French sports minister in Paris

Mohammed Ben Sulayem, FIA President, paid a working visit to Amélie Oudéa-Castéra, the French Minister for Sports and the Olympic and Paralympic Games, in Paris on September 4, 2023, on the day his fellow Emirati compatriot Sultan Al Neyadi returned to Earth from the International Space Station along with his three other astronaut colleagues from the United States and Russia.

Headquartered in Place de la Concorde, Paris, France, the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) is the governing body of motorsport and promotes road safety.

The FIA is the governing body for many auto racing events, including Formula 1. 

During the meeting, both Ben Sulayem and Oudéa-Castéra and their respective representatives discussed the importance of the FIA’s ongoing anti-abuse campaign and the need for action to increase prevention from cyber-harassment in the motorsport industry.

French support for FIA

The French Minister for Sports and the Olympic and Paralympic Games said she supports the FIA’s ‘United against online abuse’ charter, noting that the initiative syncs with the actions of France to fight against online harassment of drivers, officials, and other actors in the motorsport industry.

Oudéa-Castéra said: “The action, led by Jean-Noël Barrot, the French Minister for Digital Transition and Telecommunications, is a law that aims at securing and regulating the digital world.

“This law is currently being examined in [France’s] Parliament but will surely soon make a positive impact in making it possible to fight against all forms of violence in sports, online and offline,” she added.

Before the meeting ended, Ben Sulayem volunteered: “Thank you to Amélie Oudéa-Castéra, French Minister for Sports and the Olympic and Paralympic Games, for the warm welcome and our constructive discussion.

“We look forward to working with the French Government and are very proud of our historic roots here in France,” he added.

The FIA opposes all acts of discrimination and harassment, including physical, mental, and sexual harassment.

Featured image: Mohammed Ben Sulayem speaks at the FIA 2023 Conference in Cordoba, Andalusia, Spain, in June 2023. Image: FIA

Last Updated on 1 year by Arnold Pinto