Qatar, Saudi Olympic Academies Seal Strategic Cooperation Agreement

Tashkent – The Qatar Olympic Academy on Monday signed a cooperation agreement with the Saudi Olympic Academy on the sidelines of the 46th General Assembly of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), currently being held in the Uzbek capital, Tashkent.The agreement aims to deepen regional and Gulf sports cooperation and reflects the shared commitment of both academies to advancing the Olympic movement and promoting sport as an effective tool for community and regional development.Under the agreement, the two sides will work closely to develop sports training personnel, while encouraging the exchange of knowledge and practical expertise between the two brotherly nations, in line with the strong historical and sporting ties linking the State of Qatar and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.The partnership includes the exchange of invitations to attend courses, seminars, and conferences organized by both academies, allowing participants to benefit from diverse professional experiences. It also provides for the organization of joint training courses for sports professionals, with a focus on modern and advanced training methodologies.In addition, the agreement covers the organization of joint workshops to discuss key sports-related topics, including the development of educational programs, as well as administrative and organizational challenges facing sports institutions. The two academies will also implement joint programs aimed at preparing and qualifying specialized sports training personnel, particularly coaches across various sports disciplines.The signing of the agreement marks an important step toward building a new generation of sports leaders in Asia and the Gulf, especially in light of global challenges such as the shortage of qualified sports professionals and the impact of pandemics on the sports sector. It also supports the long-term sustainability of sports development.This partnership aligns with Qatar National Vision 2030, which highlights sport as a key pillar of human and social development, and Saudi Vision 2030, which seeks to diversify the economy through sports and entertainment initiatives. 

Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al-Thani elected OCA President

Tashkent: The General Assembly of the Olympic Council of Asia has elected H.E. Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al-Thani as President of the Council, during its meeting held today in the Uzbek capital, Tashkent. Sheikh Joaan was elected by acclamation after standing as the sole candidate for the position, marking the beginning of a new chapter for the Asian Olympic Movement.The election reflected the strong confidence placed in Sheikh Joaan by the Asian Olympic family and widespread recognition of his extensive leadership experience and long-standing contributions to sport at continental and international levels.In his  speech at the General Assembly, H.E. Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani stressed that accepting the presidency of the Olympic Council of Asia stems from a deep sense of responsibility toward the Asian Olympic family, reaffirming his commitment to serving all National Olympic Committees with openness, fairness, and respect, while keeping athletes at the heart of Olympic work.He outlined his vision for the next phase of the OCA, highlighting the importance of strengthening solidarity among Asian nations, promoting good governance, and supporting the sustainable development of sport, in addition to expanding opportunities to host major international events in Asia, empowering athletes, and inspiring future generations through collective action and effective partnerships across the Olympic Movement.During the General Assembly, H.E. Shavkat Mirziyoyev, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, awarded H.E. Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani the Order of Honour of the National Olympic Committee of Uzbekistan, in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the development of the Olympic Movement and his active role in strengthening the stature of Asian sport.H.E. Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani is regarded as one of the leading sports figures in the State of Qatar and the Asian region. Since 2015, he has led the development of Qatari sport in his capacity as President of the Qatar Olympic Committee, advancing a comprehensive strategic vision that has strengthened Qatar’s presence at both the continental and international levels, while firmly establishing the country’s position as a global destination for hosting major sporting events.Influential International RolesSheikh Joaan has maintained a strong and active presence within the international Olympic Movement through his involvement in several International Olympic Committee commissions and affiliated bodies. Since 2022, he has been a member of the IOC’s Olympism 365 Commission, having previously served on the Public Affairs and Social Development through Sport Commission from 2018 to 2022. He has also been a Board Member of the Olympic Refuge Foundation since 2017.In addition, Sheikh Joaan has served as Senior Vice President and Vice President for Asia of the Association of National Olympic Committees since 2022, and was a member of the Executive Board of the Olympic Council of Asia until 2024, underscoring the confidence placed in his leadership by international sports institutions.National Contributions and Major Event HostingUnder Sheikh Joaan’s leadership, Qatar successfully secured the hosting rights for the Doha 2030 Asian Games, FIVB 2029 Volleyball Men's World Championship and the FIBA Basketball World Cup Qatar 2027.He also played an instrumental role in bringing and overseeing the successful organisation of several major international sporting events, including the World Aquatics Championships Doha 2024, the World Judo Championships 2023, FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, the ANOC World Beach Games 2019, the World Athletics Championships Doha 2019, the FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships 2018, and the IHF Men’s Handball World Championship 2015. Additionally, Qatar hosted the IPC Athletics World Championships and the AIBA World Boxing Championships in 2015 under his guidance.Since 2024, Sheikh Joaan has served as Vice President of the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy, continuing his role in advancing excellence in the planning and delivery of world-class sporting events, following his earlier membership of the committee between 2018 and 2022.Olympic Achievements Under His LeadershipUnder the leadership of H.E. Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al-Thani, Qatari sport recorded a sustained rise on the Olympic stage, highlighted by landmark achievements across successive Games. During his presidency of the Qatar Olympic Committee, Qatar delivered its most successful Olympic performances, beginning with a silver medal by Mutaz Barshim at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, which marked Qatar’s emergence among the world’s elite in athletics.That momentum culminated at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, where Qatar achieved its best-ever Olympic result. The Games witnessed a historic breakthrough as weightlifter Fares Ibrahim captured Qatar’s first Olympic gold medal in the men’s 96kg category, while Barshim added another gold medal in the high jump, confirming his status as one of the greatest athletes of his generation. Qatar also achieved a milestone in team sports, with beach volleyball duo Cherif Younousse and Ahmed Tijan securing the bronze medal. These achievements saw Qatar finish top of the Arab medal standings at Tokyo 2020.The Olympic success continued at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, where Barshim added a bronze medal to Qatar’s tally, underscoring the consistency and longevity of elite performance achieved under Sheikh Joaan’s leadership and the effectiveness of Qatar’s long-term athlete development strategy.In Paralympic sport, Qatar recorded a notable presence at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, where Abdulrahman Abdulqader claimed the silver medal in the men’s shot put, while Sara Masoud added another silver medal in the women’s shot put, reflecting the continued development of programs supporting athletes with disabilities and their integration into Qatar’s high-performance sports system.Qatar’s Paralympic achievements continued at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, as Abdulrahman Abdulqader secured the bronze medal in the men’s shot put, underlining the sustainability of institutional efforts and Qatar’s growing profile on the international Paralympic stage.Commitment to Sports ExcellenceSheikh Joaan’s passion for sport is particularly evident in equestrian disciplines. He has chaired the Board of Al Shaqab and led its Steering Committee since 2021, playing a key role in the development of equestrian sport in Qatar. In 2014, he founded Al Shaqab Racing, further reinforcing Qatar’s global presence in the sport.His contributions to football have also been significant, having served as Vice-President of Al Sadd Sports Club from 2012 to 2015.Academic Background and Leadership RecognitionBeyond sport, Sheikh Joaan serves as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Qatar Leadership Academy, reflecting his commitment to developing future generations of leaders. His contributions to sport and the Olympic Movement have been recognised through several prestigious awards, including the Contribution to the Olympic Movement Award from ANOC in 2019 and the Corporate Social Responsibility Person of the Year Award from Qatar University in 2015.The election of Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al-Thani as President of the Olympic Council of Asia marks a significant milestone for Asian sport and highlights Qatar’s growing influence in shaping the future of the Olympic Movement across the continent. 

Team Qatar Book Semi-final Spot at Asian Men’s Handball Championship

Kuwait – Qatar have secured a place in the semi-finals of the 22nd Asian Men’s Handball Championship, currently under way in Kuwait, after defeating the United Arab Emirates 25–20 in their final main-round match on Saturday.The victory also confirmed Qatar’s qualification for the 2027 IHF Men’s World Championship, scheduled to be held in Germany, marking the 11th World Championship appearance in the team’s history.Qatar, six-time defending Asian champions, are aiming to extend their continental dominance after lifting the title in each of the last six editions.The Qatari team began their campaign with a convincing 27–15 win over Oman in the opening round of Group A, before suffering a narrow 32–30 defeat to South Korea, which saw them finish second in the group and advance to the main round.In the main round, Qatar kept their semi-final hopes alive with a 32–25 victory over Saudi Arabia, followed by a 31–28 loss to Bahrain, before sealing their place in the last four with the win over the UAE. 

Qatar to participate in 46th OCA General Assembly in Tashkent

Tashkent - Qatar is participating in the 46th General Assembly of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), which begins on Monday in the Uzbek capital, Tashkent.The event is expected to mark the election of President of the Qatar Olympic Committee HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al-Thani, as the new OCA President, signaling the start of a new era for the continent's largest sports organization.More than 350 sports officials from 45 Asian National Olympic Committees, along with representatives from international sports organizations, are attending the assembly.Participants will review reports from organizing committees for upcoming regional events, including the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan (19 September- October 4), the Asian Beach Games in Sanya, China (April 22-30), and the 2026 Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (February 8-10).The assembly will open with a welcome address by Timothy Fok, First Vice-President of the OCA and Chairman of the Hong Kong Olympic Committee, followed by remarks from Uzbek President HE Shavkat Mirziyoyev, who also serves as head of the National Olympic Committee of Uzbekistan.The agenda includes approval of minutes from the 45th General Assembly in Kuwait last May and reports from regional vice-presidents. 

Tolan and Mohari Crowned Champions at the Doha 2026 Fencing Grand Prix

DOHA - Her Excellency Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al Thani, Vice Chairperson of the Board of Directors of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development, crowned Hungarian player Ester Mohari with the gold medal in the women’s category at the conclusion of the Doha 2026 Grand Prix Fencing Championship.The event was conducted by the Qatar Fencing Federation under the supervision of the International Fencing Federation, with great success at the Aspire Halls for 3 days, with the participation of 433 players, including 254 male players and 179 female players representing 53 countries, including 8 Arab countries: Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Iraq, Lebanon, Kuwait, Tunisia and the UAE.Thomas Bach, Honorary President of the International Olympic Committee, awarded the gold medal to Dutch player Tristan Tolan in the men’s category, while Abdul Moneim Al Husseini, President of the International Fencing Federation, awarded the silver medal to Italian Simone Mencarelli, and Abdullah Ali Al Ghanim, President of the Qatar Fencing Federation, awarded the bronze medal to players Dimitri Joseph and Hungarian Gergely Szekoly (ranked first in the world).In the men’s singles final, Dutchman Tristan Tolan won the title after defeating his Italian opponent Simone Mencarelli with a score of (15 - 7), with the latter taking the silver.The bronze medal went to Dimitri Joseph (playing under a neutral flag) after he lost in the semi-finals to Dutchman Tristan Tolan (12-7), and the bronze was also won by Hungarian Gergely Szekossi (world number one) after he lost to Italian Simone Mencarelli (world number 59) (15-9) in the second semi-final match.In the women’s singles final, Hungary’s Ester Mohari won the title and the gold medal after defeating her French opponent Alexandra Louis-Marie 15-5, with Alexandra taking the silver.Frenchwoman Alexandra Louise Marie had won in the semi-finals against her compatriot Marie Florence Kandasamy by a score of 15 to 12, while Hungarian player Ester Muhari had defeated Ukrainian Anna Maksymenko by a score of 15 to 14 in the semi-finals as well. Thus, the French player Marie Florence Kandasamy and the Ukrainian Anna Maksymenko won bronze medals.The Doha 2026 Grand Prix Epee tournament is considered one of the top 3 tournaments in the world after the Grand Prix in Hungary and the Grand Prix in Colombia, and its points count towards the world ranking of players.The tournament prizes total $22,000, with the winner receiving $5,000, the runner-up winner receiving $3,000, and the third and third-place winners each receiving $1,500.It is worth mentioning that the Grand Prix Fencing Championship includes 9 rounds in different countries around the world in the three weapons “Epee, Foil and Sabre”, with 3 rounds for each weapon, and each round is held in one country.Hamad Saad Al-Jassim, Deputy Director of the Doha 2026 Grand Prix Fencing Championship, expressed his delight that the tournament was presented in the best possible way, both technically and organizationally, and that the current edition achieved great success. 

Thrilling Action Continues on Day Two of Doha 2026 Fencing Grand Prix

DOHA – Excitement remained high on the second day of the Doha 2026 Fencing Grand Prix, as top-level men’s and women’s épée competitions continued at Aspire. The three-day event, organized by the Qatar Fencing Federation under the supervision of the International Fencing Federation (FIE), brings together 433 fencers from 53 countries, including eight Arab nations: Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Iraq, Lebanon, Kuwait, Tunisia, and the UAE.The day was marked by a high-profile visit from  Mr. Thomas Bach, Honorary President of the International Olympic Committee, alongside Abdel Moneim El-Husseini, President of the International Fencing Federation, and Sheikh Salem bin Sultan Al Qasimi, President of the Asian and UAE Fencing Federations. They were welcomed by Abdullah Ali Al-Ghanem, President of the Qatar Fencing Federation, and senior federation officials.The guests toured the Aspire venue, checked the competition facilities, visited the training and weapons control areas, met fencers, coaches, and referees, and watched parts of the matches. Bach praised Qatar’s excellent organization and the modern technical systems used in the championship.On the piste, the men’s preliminary rounds delivered strong and competitive bouts, with fencers battling for places in the knockout stages. Several top international athletes advanced smoothly to the next rounds after impressive performances.Qatar’s fencers also made positive progress. Youssef Abdul-Tawab reached the round of 128 for the first time before losing to Portugal’s Filipe Frazao, while Abdulrahman Al-Jidrah reached the round of 256 and narrowly lost after a tough contest. Their participation offers valuable experience against some of the world’s best-ranked fencers.The championship concludes on Sunday with the main round of 64 for women and men, as world champions and the top 16 ranked fencers enter the competition. Among the stars expected to compete is Japan’s Koki Kano, Olympic gold medalist at Paris 2024, along with several Olympic medalists and the defending Doha Grand Prix champion.A total of 19 referees are officiating the event, including three from Qatar. Championship officials expressed their satisfaction with the smooth running of the competition and the application of new international fencing rules, highlighting the tournament’s high technical and organizational standards.