HH Shaikh Khalid Leads Bahrain’s Delegation at 37th GCC Olympic Committee Meeting

TDT | Manama

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His Highness Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, First Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports, Chairman of the General Sports Authority, and President of the Bahrain Olympic Committee, led Bahrain’s delegation at the 37th meeting of the GCC National Olympic Committee Presidents in Kuwait on Sunday. Joining Shaikh Khalid were His Highness Shaikh Isa bin Ali Al Khalifa, Vice President of the Bahrain Olympic Committee; Mr. Faris Mustafa Al Kooheji, Secretary-General; and Board Member Ms. Fajr Jassim.

Shaikh Khalid also held a high-level meeting with newly elected International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry. His Highness congratulated Coventry on her historic appointment and extended Bahrain’s full support for the global Olympic movement. Discussions focused on enhancing cooperation between Bahrain and the IOC, particularly in Olympic programme development, women’s empowerment, and expanding grassroots participation.

HH Shaikh Khalid with newly elected International Olympic Committee, President Kirsty Coventry

Both sides praised the strength of bilateral ties and affirmed the importance of continued coordination to support athletes in line with Olympic principles.

During the GCC council sessions, several key decisions were made to boost regional sporting unity. These included assigning executive committees to review the final report of the 3rd GCC Beach Games held in Oman, and approving Qatar as host of the 4th GCC Sports Games in 2026. Kuwait was granted hosting rights for the 2nd GCC Youth Games in 2028.

To ensure alignment with global competitions, the Coordination and Follow-up Committee was tasked with drawing up a unified calendar for GCC sporting events between 2029 and 2032. The UAE will host the inaugural GCC Sports Law and Management Conference in 2026, a move welcomed by all member states.

In a major step toward inclusivity, the council endorsed the creation of a unified platform for women’s sports across the Gulf, calling on all national Olympic committees to provide full support. Shaikh Khalid commended the collaborative spirit shown by GCC nations and reaffirmed Bahrain’s commitment to driving excellence, cooperation, and unity across the sporting landscape of the region.