Team Qatar athletes win 9 medals at Youth GCC Games

Abu Dhabi: The competitions of the First Youth GCC Games were concluded in the United Arab Emirates, on Tuesday.  The games brought together more than 3500 athletes from the six GCC nations.  On the closing day of the games, team Qatar athletes claimed 9 medals including 2 gold medals, 4 silver medals and 3 bronze medals.  Qatar swimming team took the gold medal of 4x100m freestyle event while Ahmed Zeyab claimed the gold medal of boy 200m individual medley (16-17 years).  Yesterday’s 9 medals took Team Qatar’s tally to 82 overall medals at the Games, including  37 medals in swimming, 9 medals in Athletics, 7 medals in Chess, 7 medals in archery, 6 medals in table tennis , 3 medals in Taekwondo, 2 medals in triathlon, 2 medals in cycling, 2 medals in boxing, 2 medals in fencing, 1 medal in Jujitsu, 1 medal in Sailing,  1 medal in equestrian, 1 medal in Karate, and 1 medal in basketball 3x3 event. 

Sheikh Joaan hosts Olympic Refuge Foundation for Annual Board meeting in Doha

Doha- The Board of Directors of the Olympic Refugee Foundation held its annual meeting for the year 2024 today in Doha, with the participation of His Excellency Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, President of the Qatar Olympic Committee and member of the Foundation's Board of Directors. The meeting was chaired by ORF Chairman and President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Dr. Thomas Bach, and was attended by ORF Vice Chair and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Mr. Filippo Grande, alongside members of the ORF Board. His Excellency Dr. Thomas Bach opened the meeting with a welcoming speech in which he praised Doha’s hosting and Qatar’s active role in supporting the Olympic Refugee Foundation. In his speech during the meeting, H.E. Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al-Thani, said: " We are committed to expanding our partnership with the Olympic Refugee Foundation (ORF) to provide a safe haven year-round for refugee athletes from all over the world, along with their coaches and technical officials - giving them the training, facilities, and access they need to develop their skills in Doha." For her part, H.E, Minister of State for International Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Lolwah bint Rashid Al Khater, said: "Qatar has demonstrated how sports can bridge divides, foster mutual understanding, and promote peace. We have invested in sports as a platform to unite people from diverse backgrounds, emphasizing that it's more than just sports—it's a dialogue" During the meeting, the members discussed several items on the agenda and made appropriate decisions. Following the meeting, the Board Members visited the Palestinian refugee compound in Al Thumama and were joined by Minister of Social Development and Family, HE Mariam Al Misnad. The Board members met with senior stakeholders from across Qatar’s public sector including Mr. Fahad Al Sulaiti, CEO of Education Above All (EAA); and Mr. Nasser Al Khori, Executive Director of Generation Amazing Foundation (GA), who explained the work Qatar is undertaking to advance social development through sport. In addition, members of the Olympic Refugee Foundation's Board of Directors held meetings with a number of officials from various public sectors in Qatar to strengthen relations. Meetings were held with Mr. Fahad Al-Sulaiti, CEO of Education Above All, and Mr. Nasser Al-Khouri, CEO of the Generation Amazing Foundation. During the meetings, Qatar's efforts to promote social development through sport were reviewed. The IOC established the ORF in 2017 at its Session in Lima where the QOC became a Founding Partner. The Foundation’s mission is for displaced young people to find belonging through sport, and shape their own futures, their way.

Team Qatar off to Brasilia for Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour

DOHA - After two weeks in Mexico and one in China, the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour is back in Brazil for a third time in 2024 as the country’s capital Brasília is set to host an Elite16 event this week, from May 1-5. The Qatari Olympic medalists duo , Cherif Younousse and Ahmed Tijan left Doha to Brazil,  hopefully to achieve a new glory in this world beach volleyball event. Most notably, Brazilia tour will bring best 16 teams together to fight for glory and achievement. The tournament held this week at the Parque da Cidade will have major implications in the last chapters of the race to qualify for the Paris Olympics as after it, just two Elite16s, in Espinho and Ostrava, and one Challenge, in Stare Jablonski, will take place before the June 9 deadline.    

Team Qatar swimmers claim 7 medals at Youth GCC Games

Abu Dhabi: Qatar’s swimming team claimed 7 new medals at the First Youth GCC Games taking place in the UAE, on Monday. Qatar’s Marwan Hassan took the gold medal of boys 200m backstroke (14-15 years) while Abdullah Al Ghamri clinched the gold medal of boys 200m backstroke ((16-17 Years). Zeyad Abdullah also claimed the gold medal of boys 100m freestyle (14-15 years). Yesterday’s seven medals took Team Qatar’s tally to 73 overall medals at the Games, which will conclude on Thursday, including 3 medals in Taekwondo, 9 medals in Para Athletics, 7 medals in Chess, 1 medal in Jujitsu, 1 medal in Sailing, 2 medals in boxing,  1 medal in equestrian, 6 medals in table tennis, 30 medals in swimming, 7 medals in archery, 1 medal in Karate, 2 medals in triathlon, 2 medals in cycling and 1 medal in basketball 3x3 event. More than 3500 athletes are competing in the Games in as many as 24 disciplines.  

Sheikh Joaan meets with UN High Commissioner for Refugees

Doha: H.E. Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al-Thani, President of the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) met today with United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Mr. Filippo Grandi in Doha to discuss Qatar’s ongoing commitment to supporting refugees. During the meeting, Sheikh Joaan and Mr Grandi discussed the latest UNHCR developments in Qatar and the region and the outlook for 2024.  Mr Grandi thanked the Government of Qatar for its continued support of UNHCR’s programmes globally and spoke of the UNHCR’s sports programmes and e-sports initiatives in the region and around the world. The pair also discussed potential opportunities for cooperation in areas of mutual interest. The meeting was held after the Olympic Refuge Foundation (ORF) annual board meeting which took place in Doha on Monday with participation of Mr Grandi as ORF Vice Chair.  

QCA receives ICC Development Initiative of the Year Award for Asian Region

Doha: The Qatar Cricket Association was named as the Asia Regional Winner of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Development Initiative of the Year. In its statement, the ICC said that this award honors Qatar Cricket Association's distinguished efforts and dedication to promoting and developing the game in the region, indicating that the associations commitment to nurturing talent at all levels was exemplary. The statement added that the Qatar Cricket Association's programs and innovative initiatives have contributed significantly to the growth of cricket in Qatar, receiving widespread appreciation from the cricket community. The ICC said that the award is a testament to the vision, hard work, and passion put in service of the game, and that it is also a well-deserved recognition of the Qatar Cricket Associations significant contributions to the sport.