Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani Chairs the 36th Meeting of the Presidents of the Gulf Cooperation Council Presidents Olympic Committees

Doha, Qatar - His Excellency Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, President of the Qatar Olympic Committee, chaired the 36th meeting of the Council of Their Highnesses and Excellencies, the Presidents of the Olympic Committees of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, which was held today at the Sheraton Doha Hotel. His Excellency Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani opened the meeting with a speech in which he welcomed Their Highnesses and Excellencies, the Presidents of the Olympic Committees, and His Excellency the Secretary-General of the GCC, and conveyed to them the greetings of His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Emir of Qatar. His Excellency expressed his thanks and appreciation to Sheikh Khalid bin Mohammed Al Zubair, President of the Oman Olympic Committee, for the sincere efforts made by the Oman Olympic Committee under his chairmanship during the previous session, which had a significant impact on strengthening the course of joint Gulf sports work. His Excellency Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani praised the great efforts made by the national Olympic committees in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, which have been positively reflected in the development of the Olympic and sports movement in the Gulf countries. His Excellency also congratulated the United Arab Emirates on the distinguished hosting of the first edition of the Gulf Youth Games, which achieved great success and constituted an important tributary for the preparation of new generations of athletes. During the meeting, the recommendations submitted by the Executive Board meeting, the memorandum of the General Secretariat on the development and enhancement of work in the Gulf sports system, and the report prepared by the General Secretariat on the steps taken by the member states to implement executive steps to strengthen the capabilities of the national Olympic committees in the GCC countries and empower them to ensure their continued development of the Gulf sports work system and achieve the aspirations and hopes of athletes in the GCC countries, and provide them with a stimulating environment for creativity, development and excellence, where the total number of programs that will be organized during this year reached 43 programs in all sports specializations. The meeting decided to urge the Olympic committees to hold more specialized courses and workshops in the sports field, with more opportunities for citizens of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries to participate in these courses, and that the Gulf Olympic committees should provide the General Secretariat with the schedule for the next year 2025, which includes training courses, conferences, workshops and specialized events in the sports field to be circulated to the member states. The Presidents of the Olympic Committees in the GCC countries, were also briefed on the recommendations on joint Gulf sports work, where the Secretariat received requests to host 13 Gulf sports championships for the year 2024. The Presidents of the Olympic Committees appreciated the efforts made by the Olympic committees and sports federations for various sports in order to strengthen joint Gulf sports activity. It was agreed that the national Olympic committees in the GCC countries should provide the General Secretariat with the Gulf sports tournaments and championships that the Olympic committees and sports federations intend to host during the next year 2025. The Council reviewed the memorandum of the General Secretariat on the meeting of the Working Group on studying the conditions of the committees and working groups affiliated with the Council, and the recommendations that emerged from the meeting. It was decided to form a planning, coordination and follow-up committee consisting of nominees from the member states who have experience and competence in the sports field. The tasks and responsibilities of the committee were also approved, and the Executive Board was tasked with following up, supervising and approving the results of the outputs of the committees and working groups affiliated with the Council of Presidents of the Olympic Committees. The Presidents of the Olympic Committees in the GCC countries, were also briefed on the recommendations of the Executive Board and the memorandum of the General Secretariat on international cooperation and partnerships regionally and internationally, in addition to other international organizations in the sports field, and on the current state of joint Gulf sports activity, which focuses only on organizing the Gulf multi sports events, where a sports tournament is held every year represented in the General Sports Games, the Youth Sports Games, the Beach Sports Games, and the Indoor and Martial Arts Sports Games, with varying activity in holding sports tournaments and specialized workshops in the sports field. The Council recommended that the Planning, Coordination and Follow-up Committee study the most appropriate forms of international cooperation in the coming period. The recommendation of the Executive Board and the memorandum of the General Secretariat on the results of the work of the Working Group to review the draft of the regulations of the GCC Games were reviewed and approved, with the name being changed to the regulations organizing the sports tournaments in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries. It was decided to hold the 37th meeting of the Council of Their Highnesses, Excellencies and Highnesses, the Presidents of the Olympic Committees of the GCC countries, on May 6, 2025, in the State of Kuwait.  

Qatar Olympic Committee Celebrates 45th Anniversary

Doha - The Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) today celebrated the 45th anniversary of its establishment on March 14, 1979. The QOC held a ceremony on this occasion at the Fairmont Hotel in the presence of His Excellency Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, President of the QOC. The ceremony was also attended by His Excellency Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Thani, Minister of Sports and Youth, a number of Gulf and Qatari sports leaders, and representatives of the Olympic committees of the West Asia region. At the beginning of the ceremony, a film was screened about the history and achievements of the Qatar Olympic Committee over the past 45 years. His Excellency Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, President of the Qatar Olympic Committee, honored Team Qatar promising stars who accomplished achievements in the first GCC Youth Games "UAE 2024". Then, His Excellency Mr. Jassim bin Rashid Al Bouenain, Secretary General of the QOC, delivered a speech in which he said: "It is my pleasure to welcome you to this ceremony on the occasion of the 45th anniversary of the establishment of the Qatar Olympic Committee on March 14, 1979, which marked the beginning of the journey to develop the sports movement in the State of Qatar, leading to what we are witnessing today of a sports renaissance full of achievements on all levels." He added: "The Qatar Olympic Committee has achieved great successes in various fields since its inception in 1979 and continues to do so, thanks to God and the generous patronage of His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of the country." And during those years, it made a qualitative leap in Qatari sports, thanks to the distinguished leadership of Their Highnesses and Excellencies who have succeeded to the presidency of the Qatar Olympic Committee and the sincere efforts of all those working in the Olympic Committee. The Secretary General of the Qatar Olympic Committee explained: "The Qatar Olympic Committee has played an important and prominent role over the past 45 years in spreading sports, supporting and developing the Olympic movement, and achieving unprecedented victories in the various tournaments and championships in which Qatari athletes have participated and won numerous medals regionally, continentally and internationally." Al Bouenain continued: "The efforts of the Qatar Olympic Committee have also contributed to strengthening Qatar's sporting position on the world stage through the organization of major events and tournaments in various sports, the latest of which was the World Aquatics Championships - Doha 2024, which was held last February and saw unparalleled success, adding to the series of Qatari strides at the level of organizing world championships." He said that what has been achieved is not the end of our goals and aspirations, but we are still looking forward to more achievements in the next stage to keep pace with the comprehensive renaissance that the State of Qatar is witnessing under the wise leadership of His Highness the Emir of the country and the successive achievements in all fields. The Secretary General of the Qatar Olympic Committee affirmed the Qatar Olympic Committee's firm commitment to work according to a clear vision and goal, which is to be a leading country that brings the world together through sustainable sports development, and to drive the wheel of sports development through its strategy 2023-2030, which aims to achieve three main goals: ensuring sports excellence, promoting Olympic culture, and achieving comprehensive sports development in line with the goals of Qatar National Vision 2030. The Secretary General of the Qatar Olympic Committee concluded his speech by saying: "We affirm that we are moving forward to achieve our goals of spreading sports in society, investing in the sports heritage that has resulted from previous achievements, and continuing to achieve sports achievements to honor the name of Qatar in various forums." The Qatar Olympic Committee was established on March 14, 1979, and joined the International Olympic Committee in 1980, and the Asian Olympic Council in 1981. It also joined the Union of National Olympic Committees of the Arab Countries in 1982. Since its establishment, the Qatar Olympic Committee has played a prominent role in spreading sports awareness in the country, sponsoring and developing the Olympic movement according to the foundations on which the Olympic Charter is based, and supporting and developing sports performance, which has contributed to the great boom that the Qatari sports movement has witnessed during the past 45 years. In line with the efforts of the Qatar Olympic Committee to improve all kinds of sports, many unprecedented achievements have been made on various levels. One of the most prominent sports achievements that have been achieved since the establishment of the Qatar Olympic Committee is the winning of 8 Olympic medals, with two golds, two silvers and four bronzes. The Qatari national teams have also achieved many other outstanding achievements in various  

Al Buenain lauds the results of the 98th Executive Board meeting of GCC Olympic Committees

The QOC Secretary General H.E. Jassim bin Rashid Al Buenain lauded the results of the 98th Executive Board meeting of the GCC Olympic Committees held in Doha on Tuesday.  Al Buenain stressed that the meeting came up with some important recommendations to be submitted to the presidents of the GCC Olympic Committees in their meeting to be held in Doha on Wednesday under the leadership of the QOC President H.E. Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al-Thani.  The QOC Secretary General underlined the importance of the GCC joint sports action in developing Olympic and sports movement in the GCC nations, confirming that the first GCC Youth Games held in the UAE last month was an important milestone in preparing a new generation of young GCC athletes for the future sports events.  Al Buenain also praised the great efforts made by the GCC Olympic Committees, which resulted in many achievements at all levels over the past years, wishing all success for the GCC athletes at the upcoming Summer Olympic Games, Paris 2024.

Executive Board of GCC Olympic Committees holds its 98th meeting

The 98th executive board meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Olympic Committees was held in Doha on Tuesday.  The QOC Secretary General H.E. Jassim bin Rashid Al Buenain chaired the meeting which was also attended by Secretaries General of the GCC Olympic Committees.  The meeting discussed a number of topics including developing the GCC joint sports action and the upcoming GCC sports events.  The meeting also reviewed the reports of Sports Advisory Committee, Women’s Sports Advisory Committee, Athletes’ Advisory Committee, and the Paralympic Advisory Committee, in addition to the regulations of the GCC Games.  The Executive board members reviewed the report of the first GCC Youth Games which was held in the UAE last month.  The members approved the recommendations to be submitted to the presidents of the GCC Olympic Committees in their 36th meeting to be held in Doha on Wednesday.

Momen captures QSF 3 title

Doha: Top seed Tarek Momen lifted the QSF 3 title after overcoming Malaysia’s Eain Yow Ng in four games at the Khalifa International Tennis & Squash Complex in Doha, Qatar. The win sees Momen capture his 10th PSA World Tour title and his first since August’s Windsor Cup. The 36-year-old secured an 11-6, 11-4, 5-11, 11-5 win in 50 minutes to win the PSA World Tour Bronze event. Momen had earlier knocked out Qatari No.1 Abdulla Al-Tamimi in the semi-finals, with wins against India’s Velavan Senthilkumar and Aly Hussein earlier in the event. It was a composed performance from the World No.8 to go 2-0 up against Eain Yow and, despite dropping the third game, he held his nerve to seal the fourth and the title.  

Team Qatar finish fourth at Arab Beach Volleyball Championship

Amman – Team Qatar (1) claimed the fourth place overall in the  2024 Arab Beach Volleyball Championship for Men and Women which will be concluded in Jordan’s capital city of Amman  on Wednesday. In the championship’s game for  third and fourth places held on  Monday, Team Qatar (1) suffered a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Lebanon. Six nations are taking part in the event, which continues until Wednesday. The field consists of men’s and women’s teams from Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Lebanon and hosts Jordan.