Qatar Olympic Committee Honours 102 Employees at “Journey & Achievement Ceremony 2026”

Doha: In the presence of H.E. Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, President of the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC), the QOC held its “Journey & Achievement Ceremony 2026” today at its headquarters, celebrating its employees and recognising their dedication, outstanding performance and commitment to continuous learning and development.The ceremony was attended by H.E. Mohamed bin Yousef Al Mana, First Vice President of the Qatar Olympic Committee; H.E. Dr. Thani bin Abdulrahman Al Kuwari, Second Vice President of the Qatar Olympic Committee; and H.E. Jassim bin Rashid Al Buenain, Secretary General of the Qatar Olympic Committee, along with a number of QOC department directors.H.E. Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani honoured 102 QOC employees, including 30 recipients of the Appreciation, Excellence, Incentive and “Ambition” awards, as well as 72 graduates of the 2025 development programmes.The Appreciation Award comprised two categories: employees who have completed 25 years or more of service, in recognition of their longstanding dedication, loyalty and contributions to the QOC’s journey; and retired employees who concluded their careers after years of service and achievement, in appreciation of their efforts and contributions throughout their time at the QOC.The Excellence Award featured three categories: Supervisory Positions, Specialist Category and Employee Category, recognising employees who demonstrated outstanding leadership and team management, professional and specialised competence, high-quality performance, and a continued commitment to developing their skills and professional capabilities.The Incentive Awards comprised five categories: Job Commitment Award, Initiative Award, Cooperation and Teamwork Award, Distinguished Team Leader Award, and Effective Participation in Organising Sports Events Award. The awards recognised employees who demonstrated outstanding commitment, initiative, collaboration and leadership, as well as those who made notable contributions to the successful organisation of sporting events.The QOC also honoured seven employees with the “Ambition” Award, which is presented to employees who obtained academic qualifications during 2025, in recognition of their ambition and commitment to continuing their education and developing their academic and professional capabilities in ways that benefit the QOC.The ceremony also recognised 72 employees who graduated from five development programmes in 2025. These included 12 graduates of the Leadership Excellence Programme, 15 from the Sports Events Organising Cadres Programme, 15 from the Competencies Programme, 15 from the Tawasol Programme and 15 from the Artificial Intelligence Programme.The programmes aim to develop the leadership and professional capabilities of QOC employees, prepare and qualify the next generation of leaders, and develop qualified personnel capable of managing and organising sporting events efficiently and professionally. They also seek to strengthen institutional communication skills and promote the effective use of artificial intelligence tools in the workplace to support digital transformation and enhance institutional performance.The Tawasol and Artificial Intelligence programmes were recently introduced under the direction of H.E. the President of the Qatar Olympic Committee. The Tawasul Programme focuses on developing employees’ institutional communication skills, strengthening their ability to build effective professional relationships and represent the QOC professionally at local and international forums. The Artificial Intelligence Programme aims to equip employees with the skills to utilise artificial intelligence tools in the workplace.Maryam Al Kuwari: Creativity is a culture and a practice in the workplaceMs. Maryam Mohammed Saif Al Kuwari, Director of Human Resources and Administrative Affairs at the Qatar Olympic Committee, said that the “Journey & Achievement 2026” ceremony provides an opportunity to recognise the efforts of QOC employees and celebrate examples of dedication, excellence and ambition, noting that every achievement is underpinned by a journey of hard work, commitment and development.She said: “Every year, through ‘Journey & Achievement’, we seek to highlight a value that we want to embed in our daily practices and workplace culture. This year, we have chosen ‘Creativity’, reflecting our belief that organisations looking to the future do not simply repeat what has worked in the past, but continuously seek better ways of working and developing.”Al Kuwari highlighted the QOC’s commitment to attracting outstanding talent from leading universities, with a focus on specialised fields that align with the Committee’s current and future needs. She noted that over the past three years, the QOC has recruited 98 employees, including talented professionals and graduates from leading universities, across specialised fields including sports management, information systems, law, finance and accounting, marketing and communications, among others.She added that the QOC has witnessed a significant increase in women’s participation in its workforce in recent years, with women now accounting for 42% of the QOC’s total workforce, alongside increased female representation in supervisory and leadership positions.Al Kuwari added that the QOC’s responsibility does not end with attracting talent, but extends to developing and investing in its employees. She noted that the QOC began its development programme journey in 2019 with just one programme, and today, thanks to the continued support and guidance of the QOC’s senior leadership, it has five specialised development programmes: the Sports Events Organising Cadres Programme, Competencies Programme, Leadership Excellence Programme, Artificial Intelligence Programme and Tawasol Programme.She explained that 277 employees from across the QOC’s departments have graduated from the five development programmes since their launch. In addition, nearly 100 training courses and awareness, educational and learning programmes were delivered in 2025, benefiting approximately 1,000 employees from QOC departments, sports federations and committees.Al Kuwari also highlighted the importance of the Artificial Intelligence Programme in developing employees’ ability to effectively utilise AI technologies and tools in the workplace, helping to improve productivity, enhance working methods and identify more efficient and innovative solutions. 

Unbeaten Qatar win Asian U19 Handball Championship in Amman

Doha: Qatar clinched the Asian Under-19 Handball Championship title defeating Bahrain 28-24 in the final in Amman, Jordan on Monday.Qatar dominated from the outset, taking a 16-10 lead into half-time before maintaining their control in the second half to seal the title with a four-goal victory.The champions had reached the final with a 32-28 win over South Korea in the semi-finals, while Bahrain advanced after beating  Iran 26-23.Qatar remained unbeaten throughout the tournament, finishing top of Group B with eight points after victories over Saudi Arabia (30-22), Kuwait (30-19), Iran (24-22) and Syria (42-29).They then thrashed hosts Jordan 33-13 in the quarter-finals before overcoming South Korea in the last four.The continental triumph also secured Qatar’s qualification for the 2027 IHF Men’s Junior World Championship in North Macedonia, marking the seventh time the team has reached the global tournament.

Team Qatar to Compete in West Asian Women’s Volleyball Championship in Jordan

Doha: Qatar’s women’s national volleyball team will compete in the third edition of the West Asian Women’s Volleyball Championship, to be held in Amman, Jordan, from September 3 to 7, with Qatar, Jordan, Iraq and Lebanon taking part.The Qatari delegation will depart for Amman on Tuesday ahead of the championship, where Team Qatar will be aiming to achieve positive results, challenge for the title and secure qualification for the 2027 Asian Women’s Volleyball Championship.Qatar will open their campaign against hosts Jordan on Thursday, September 3, at 6:00 PM in the second match of the opening day, following the Lebanon-Iraq encounter at 4:00 PM.In the second round on Saturday, September 5, Qatar will face Iraq at 4:00 PM, before Jordan take on Lebanon at 6:00 PM.Team Qatar will conclude their campaign against Lebanon on Monday, September 7, at 4:00 PM, while Jordan face Iraq at 6:00 PM in the final match of the championship.The tournament will be played in a single round-robin format, with each team playing three matches. The team with the most victories at the end of the competition will be crowned champions, while the winners will also secure direct qualification for the 2027 Asian Women’s Volleyball Championship, scheduled for June next year.The Qatari delegation includes the technical, administrative and medical staff, along with 12 players. The team are led by Argentine head coach Lucas Carolo, assisted by Nahuel Alejandro, with Nicolas Vazquez serving as fitness coach, Fatima Al Asaad as physiotherapist and Ghadeer Issam as team administrator.Qatar’s squad comprises Dana Saber, Somaya Yahya, Ladan Al Waleed, Tasneem Yasser, Lamis Abdulrahman, Al Mayassa Diab, Bendaa Fatima Ibrahim, Damla Yagmur, Maryam Ammar, Nelly Amr, Lujain Mahmoud and Shadia Yasser.The West Asian Volleyball Association previously conducted the championship draw virtually from Doha in the presence of Mohammed Salem Al Kuwari, Secretary General of the West Asian Volleyball Association; Yousef Ahmed Kanoo, Treasurer of the Association; Pascale Al Kassouf of Lebanon, Chair of the Championship Control Committee; and representatives of the participating national federations.The participating teams and delegations are scheduled to arrive in Amman on Tuesday, with preliminary team formalities taking place on Wednesday ahead of the start of competition on Thursday. The delegations will depart Jordan on September 8.

Team Qatar lose to Japan in 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup Qualifiers

Tokyo: The Qatar men's national basketball team suffered a 123-70 defeat against Japan in Tokyo on Monday during the second round of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers.The quarter-by-quarter breakdown favored the hosts: 29-11, 24-23, 40-11, and 30-25.With the victory, Japan brought their points total to 14 in Group F, while Qatar sit at 12 points. Group F also features China, Lebanon, South Korea, and Saudi Arabia, with fierce competition underway for advancement to the next stage.Qatar is participating in the qualifiers as the host nation for the 2027 World Cup, securing an automatic berth in the tournament. While its match outcomes count in the standings, Qatar is excluded from the final group ranking. Under the tournament format, the top three teams from each group advance alongside the best fourth-place finisher. Qatar's participation aims to build competitiveness and gain valuable experience against the continent's top squads as part of its preparations for the global showcase.Qatar continues its second-round campaign by hosting South Korea in Doha on November 26, followed by a rematch against Japan in Doha on November 29.

FIVB Designates Al Gharafa Centre as International Beach Volleyball Excellence Hub

Doha: The FIVB has approved the Al Gharafa Beach Volleyball Training Centre in Doha as an International Centre of Excellence for Beach Volleyball, following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with the Qatar Volleyball Association (QVA) Saturday at the Qatar Olympic Academy in Al Gharafa.With this designation, the Centre joins the FIVB's network of International Centres of Excellence, in a step that strengthens Qatar's position as a global hub for athlete and coach development, knowledge interchange and raising standards in the sport.The Centre will provide an international platform for high-performance preparation, athlete and youth development, coach education, technical cooperation, international training camps and knowledge interchange, capitalizing on its facilities, which include five beach volleyball courts, alongside recovery and athlete support services and access to sophisticated technical and high-performance personnel.This designation is the culmination of the remarkable development of beach volleyball in Qatar in recent years, reflected in incredible results on the international stage, alongside Doha's hosting of some of the sport's biggest international beach volleyball events, including stages and finals of the Beach Volleyball World Tour.QVA President and President of the Qatar and West Asia Volleyball Federations Ali Ghanim Al Kuwari said beach volleyball is highly cherished in Qatar, noting that QVA has worked to advance the sport and welcomed some of the world's leading players, culminating in the historic achievement of Cherif Younousse and Ahmed Tijan, who won the bronze medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.Al Kuwari highlighted that Doha eyes to strengthen its stature as a global  destination for athletes and coaches from across the region and the world by providing an environment for training, preparation and knowledge interchange at the highest level, stressing that this partnership demonstrates Qatar's unwavering commitment to developing the sports sector and strengthening its international presence, into line with the goals of Qatar National Vision 2030.Cherif Younousse, a member of the FIVB Athletes' Commission, said the new Centre offers the opportunity to turn the feats achieved by Qatar's beach volleyball into a legacy that benefits athletes from around the globe, stressing the importance of providing an environment that enables athletes and coaches to interchange knowledge and improve at the highest level.FIVB President Fabio Azevedo said the importance of the Centre lies in making the knowledge, experience and high-performance environment that Qatar has built in beach volleyball available to a substantial number of athletes, coaches and National Federations around the world.He added that the International Centres of Excellence network aims to provide wider opportunities for high-performance preparation and knowledge and experience exchange, contributing to elevating standards in the sport and creating more opportunities for athletes and coaches.The designation comes under the FIVB Strategic Vision 2032, particularly its plan to expand the International Centres of Excellence network and accelerate the global development of beach volleyball.This also marks Qatar's preparations to host a number of major sporting events, including the FIVB Volleyball Men's World Cup 2029 and the Asian Games 2030.

Qatar U-19 Handball Team Face Bahrain in Asian Championship Final on Monday

Amman: Qatar’s U-19 handball team will face Bahrain on Monday in the final of the Asian Men’s Youth Handball Championship, currently being held in Jordan.Qatar secured their place in the final after defeating South Korea 32-28 in the semifinals, while Bahrain advanced to the title match following a 26-23 victory over Iran.The Qatari side have produced an impressive campaign and remain unbeaten in the championship. They finished the group stage with a perfect eight points after recording four consecutive victories, defeating Saudi Arabia 30-22, Kuwait 30-19, Iran 24-22 and Syria 42-29.In the quarterfinals, Qatar produced a commanding performance to defeat tournament hosts Jordan 33-13 before overcoming South Korea in the semifinals to book their place in the final.Qatar will now be aiming to crown their unbeaten campaign by lifting the Asian title, having already secured qualification for the 2027 IHF Men’s Youth World Championship for the seventh time in their history.