With just over a month to go before the Bergen Sports Council, there is a battle between the 35-year-old chairman and sitting chairman Berit Kjøll.

In front of NTB, Al-Samarai explains what her most important problems are if she were to be elected.

– I myself grew up in a family with modest finances, and we have recently seen that there are more children and young people who cannot play sports. One of the most important things will be to ensure that children and young people do not stay outside and scratch at the door, she says.

Political context

The presidential candidate also highlights more political work in sport and the strengthening of teams, clubs and volunteering.

– I want us to work more politically. We must guarantee the framework conditions for sport, both at the highest level and at the broadest level. I think my political journey, if it continues in June, will be a force in the municipal and departmental electoral campaign, to ensure that we have more facilities, to equip the facilities that we already have and to strengthen our clubs.

– We are in a time where there is a lot more focus on the economy as a barrier, and I think we are entering a period where we need a lot more political understanding and influence, he adds she on TV 2.

[ Derfor kan Zaineb bli idrettspresident ]

Manager Holmlia

Al-Samarai has been a member of the sports council since 2019 under current chairman Kjøll. Support for him has grown in recent months from both specialist associations and sports circles.

Al-Samarai came to Norway as a refugee from Iraq when she was seven years old. She currently works as a communications consultant at Storm Samfunn AS, a company owned by Petter Stordalen.

She studied law at the University of Oslo and has a background in politics. Al-Samarai served on the Oslo City Council from 2011 to 2015. From 2017 to 2021, she served as Deputy Representative in the Storting for the Labor Party.

The proposed sports president has, among other things, been the leader of the Holmlia Sports Club.

[ Al-Samarai innstilt som ny idrettspresident – valgkomiteen ikke upåvirket av Kjøll-støyen  ]

Election campaign

Al-Samarai remained somewhat in the background in the prelude to the selection committee’s recommendation and in the debate that raged around the much-discussed whistleblower case within the Norwegian Sports Confederation.

– After all, I am a member of the sports council, and the rules of the game are such that you want the selection committee to have peace of mind for their work. I have respect for that, she said.

However, as the sports council approaches, Al-Samarai must work to muster even more support.

– I have to persevere in the second half as well. I want to travel and talk to people, listen to them and let them get to know me and what I want to do for Norwegian sport, she says and adds:

– Now it’s the charmer’s stage, and I have to be with you all the way. I take absolutely nothing for granted.

[ Kampklar Berit Kjøll etter vrakingen – vil utfordre Al-Samarai ]