Bahrain Olympic Committee (BOC) President Sheikh Khaled bin Hamad Al Khalifa was among the officials in attendance at the Bahrain Universities and Schools Sports Federation's first Schools Sports Forum.

Sheikh Khaled, a son of Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, is also first deputy chairman of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports and General Sports Authority chairman.

He was joined at the Bahrain Bayan School in Isa Town by officials including BOC vice-president and Cabinet Affairs Undersecretary Sheikh Isa bin Ali bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, BOC secretary general Faris Mustafa Al Kooheji and Bahrain Universities and Schools Sports Federation President Sheikh Saqer bin Salman Al Khalifa.

According to the state-run Bahrain News Agency, the BOC President commended organisers of the Schools Sports Forum for strengthening ties between Bahraini schools and promoting school sport.

He underlined the importance of school sport for developing talents in Bahrain.

Bahrain is due to host next year's International School Sports Federation Gymnasiade, stepping in after Yekaterinburg in Russia was stripped of the event because of the war in Ukraine.

More than 5,000 students from 80 countries are expected to take part, with 25 sports planned across 14 venues in Bahrain.

A briefing on the Gymnasiade was provided at the Forum.