The Secretary-General of the Bahrain Olympic Committee, His Excellency Mr. Fares Mustafa Al-Kooheji, hosted Mr. Nenad LALOVIC, IOC Executive Board member and President of the International Wrestling Federation, during his official visit to the Kingdom of Bahrain. Mr. Ahmed Mohammed Abdul Ghaffar, Executive Director of Operations, and Mr. Madin Al-Wanas, Director of Technical Affairs, also attended the meeting.
In his welcoming remarks, the Secretary-General conveyed the heartfelt greetings of His Highness Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, First Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports, President of the General Sports Authority, and the Bahrain Olympic Committee. He commended the International Wrestling Federation for its outstanding contributions to the global development and promotion of wrestling, particularly as the sport remains a staple of the Olympic Games.
Mr. Al-Kooheji emphasized the importance of deepening collaboration between Bahrain and the International Wrestling Federation. He highlighted Bahrain's commitment to advancing the sport in Bahrain, with a focus on further developing local talent. He expressed confidence that this cooperation would continue to yield positive outcomes for Bahraini wrestling.
In response, Mr. Nenad LALOVIC expressed his sincere gratitude for the warm hospitality the Bahrain Olympic Committee extended. He also praised the remarkable progress made by Bahraini wrestling, underscoring the significant achievement of Adam Tajeddine, who earned Bahrain’s first Olympic wrestling medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Mr. LALOVIC reiterated the International Wrestling Federation's commitment to further strengthening ties with its Bahraini counterpart, under the guidance of the Bahrain Olympic Committee. During his visit, Mr. LALOVIC also had the opportunity to observe the training sessions of Bahrain’s junior wrestling team. Accompanied by Mr. Al-Kooheji, he expressed admiration for the young athletes’ skills, dedication, and passion for the sport, wishing them continued success.
