Manama: His Highness Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the First Deputy Chairman of SCYS, Chairman of the General Sports Authority (GSA), and President of the Bahrain Olympic Committee (BOC), chaired the fifth board meeting of the BOC at Al Wadi Palace.
HH Shaikh Khalid commended the efforts of the members of the board and the executive body, led by Faris Mustafa Al Kooheji, the Secretary General of BOC.
His Highness emphasised the importance of continuing efforts to promote the sports movement.
The meeting discussed the items on the agenda and approved the minutes of the previous meeting.
HH Shaikh Khalid was briefed on the latest developments regarding the Kingdom’s participation in the Paris Olympics 2024.
HH Shaikh Khalid underscored the importance of preparing for the Olympics, which is considered the most important global sporting event, and wished the Bahraini delegation success.
His Highness was briefed on the preparations for the International School Games (ISF) Gymnasiade Bahrain 2024 in October and the arrangements for the sixth edition of the School Olympiad.
His Highness emphasised the importance of involving the largest number of public and private schools in preparation for the ISF 2024.
The BOC meeting reviewed preparations for Bahrain to host the 2024 High Diving World Cup, a qualifying event for the 2025 World Aquatics Championships in Singapore.
The board also approved the organisational structure of the Supreme Organising Committee, headed by Faris Mustafa Al Kooheji, as well as a cooperation agreement between the Olympic Committee and The Art Hotel and Resort to host the Olympic swimming pool for the event.
The BOC board approved the Olympic Committee’s participation in the 6th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in Thailand in November 2024, with Redha Manfredi approved as the Director of Bahrain’s delegation. The board emphasised the need to coordinate with sports federations on their participation to finalise the size of the teams in line with the allocated budget.
They also approved Bahrain’s participation in the 2025 Arab Women’s Games and directed the Olympic Committee to assess the readiness of national federations to participate.
Regarding the National Centre for Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation, the BOC board approved the formation of a medical committee headed by Fares Thulfiqar Noureddine to study and follow up on treatment requests from male and female players.
For the Olympic Academy, the board decided to coordinate with the International Olympic Academy to launch an accredited bachelor’s programme in sports management, to graduate qualified personnel to work in sports clubs and federations.
The BOC board approved the launch of an online store for the sale of the Olympic Committee’s sports kits and equipment. It also approved Bahrain’s hosting of the first-ever International Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) Executive Committee meeting in 2025.
