Dubai – Reported by Hisham Jaafar (Photography by Ali Al-Halwaji):
On Saturday, April 13, 2024, the first wave of Bahrain's administrative delegation touched down in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, signaling the commencement of the Kingdom's participation in the first Gulf Youth Games. This major event is scheduled from April 16 to May 2, and it marks a significant gathering for national teams across the Gulf region.
Under the leadership of Mrs. Fajr Jasim, a member of the Bahrain Olympic Committee Board of Directors and the Director of the Mission, the delegation includes administrators Shouf Al-Maloud, Hassan Jumaa, Ali Harouneh, and Youssef Hussein, alongside a dedicated media team comprising Hassan Ali Ahmed, Ali Al-Halwaji, Hisham Jaafar, Ahmed Al-Hadar, and Jaber Yahya.
The Gulf Youth Games, hosting around 3,500 athletes from all Gulf Cooperation Council countries, will showcase 26 different sports in a competition that celebrates unity and the promising future of Gulf youth under the slogan “Our Gulf is One... Our Youth is Promising.”
The events are distributed across several Emirates, with Abu Dhabi hosting football, swimming, judo, cycling, sailing, ju-jitsu, and boxing. Dubai will be the venue for table tennis, athletics, volleyball, e-sports, athletics for people with disabilities, and golf, while Sharjah will see competitions in 3x3 basketball, handball, karate, chess, archery, equestrian sports, and track cycling. Fujairah and Ajman will host taekwondo, fencing, badminton, and triathlon competitions, respectively.
This extensive participation underscores Bahrain's commitment to fostering young talent and promoting sports as a vital component of youth development in the region.
Bahraini Football and Taekwondo Teams Ready for Action at Gulf Youth Games
The Bahraini football and taekwondo teams have arrived in the UAE, primed for the inaugural Gulf Youth Games. Welcomed by delegation director Fajr Jassim and team officials, both teams have settled into their respective accommodations. The football team, stationed at the Grand Millennium Hotel in Abu Dhabi, will kick off their first match against Kuwait at Al Nahyan Stadium on Tuesday. Meanwhile, the taekwondo team, housed at the Al Bahar Resort Hotel in Fujairah, will begin their competitions on Wednesday. The teams are eager to represent Bahrain with distinction in this regional sports showcase.
Gulf Youth Games Venues Fully Equipped and Ready for Action
The Organizing Committee for the First Gulf Youth Games has announced that all sports facilities across the host cities—Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, and Fujairah—are completely ready for the upcoming competitions. Coordinated with the UAE Olympic Committee and local Sports Councils, the venues have met all the necessary requirements. Nabil Ashour, Technical Committee Chairman, confirmed that while 99% of the facilities are approved, the final steps are underway to ensure specialized venues for sports like equestrian, archery, and chess are also competition-ready. Representatives from each emirate are facilitating smooth operations and comfort for all teams.
Gulf Youth Games Announce Match Schedules for Football, Volleyball, and Handball Competitions
The Technical Committee of the first Gulf Youth Games has finalized and approved the schedules for the football, volleyball, and handball tournaments. These events will feature teams from across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and will be held under a single-round league system to foster competitive play among the youth teams.
Football Matches Kickoff in Abu Dhabi
The football tournament will commence next Tuesday at Al Nahyan Stadium, Al Wahda Club in Abu Dhabi, with games scheduled for 4:45 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. UAE time. The opening round features the UAE facing off against Oman, followed by Kuwait versus Bahrain. Subsequent rounds on April 19 and April 22 will determine the advancing teams, with the finale set for April 22, where matchups include UAE against Kuwait and Oman against Bahrain.
Volleyball Action Set for Dubai
Volleyball competitions will start on April 20 and run through April 25 at the Al-Nasr Club hall in Dubai. The format promises intense competition, with three matches each day at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m. The opening day will see Qatar versus Saudi Arabia, Kuwait against Bahrain, and the UAE versus Oman. The teams will have a rest day on April 23, with the final matches on April 25 to determine the champion based on victories and point differences.
Handball Teams to Compete at Al-Bataeh Sports and Cultural Club
All Gulf teams will participate in the handball tournament, also conducted in a single-round league format. The matches are spread over several days starting April 20, with rest days interspersed to allow teams recovery. The competition will conclude on April 26, with teams departing on April 27.
These schedules are part of the organizers' commitment to ensuring a well-structured and successful sporting event, reflecting the UAE's reputation for excellent event management.
