Seef District - Bahrain Olympic Committee:
Under the aegis of His Excellency Shaikh Abdulaziz bin Mubarak Al Khalifa, President of the Bahrain Tennis Federation, a pivotal meeting convened at the Bahrain Olympic Committee headquarters in Seef District on Monday, March 25, 2024. The gathering, spearheaded by His Excellency Mr. Fares Mustafa Al-Kooheji, Secretary-General of the Bahrain Olympic Committee, and Mr. Ali Abdulaziz Janahi, a Board Member and Head of the Bahraini Delegation, brought together leaders and representatives from the sports federations set to participate in the forthcoming Gulf Youth Games.
The first-ever Gulf Youth Games, hosted by the United Arab Emirates from April 16 to May 2, 2024, aims to showcase young talent across various sports disciplines. Fajr Jasim Hassan, a Board Member and the Director of the Mission, along with several directors from the Olympic Committee, also graced the meeting with their presence.
Mr. Al-Kooheji extended a warm welcome to the federation heads, echoing the sentiments and well-wishes of His Highness Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa. The paramount objective, he emphasized, is to foster unity among the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries' youth through sports. He underscored the significance of achieving commendable results and the event's critical role in honing the skills of young athletes, preparing them for future international challenges, including the Fourth Asian Youth Games in Tashkent in 2025 and the Summer Youth Olympic Games in Dakar in 2026.
The Secretary-General provided an insightful overview of Bahrain's participation, highlighting involvement in 16 sports across five emirates. This diverse sporting endeavour encompasses handball and chess in Sharjah; taekwondo and fencing in Fujairah; triathlon in Ajman; football, swimming, jiu-jitsu, judo, and cycling in Abu Dhabi; and volleyball, badminton, table tennis, athletics, tennis, including athletics for individuals with disabilities in Dubai.
With a robust contingent of 168 athletes, including 96 players and a 52-strong technical and administrative team, Bahrain is poised for a strong showing. These sports were selected after thorough evaluation, aiming for outstanding performances that would reflect positively on Bahrain's sporting reputation.
Following the overview, Mr. Al-Kooheji engaged with the federations to understand their preparations, technical and administrative insights, and their aspirations for the Games, setting the stage for a historic participation that aims to leave a lasting mark on the Gulf Youth Games.
