GSA Launches Clubs Excellence Award

New initiative among measures aimed at improving Bahrain’s sporting sector

The Khalid bin Hamad Award for Institutional Excellence for Clubs was approved at the General Sports Authority’s (GSA) ninth board meeting at Al Wadi Palace on Sunday.

It aims to raise standards across clubs’ administrative, financial and technical operations, while encouraging better management.

The meeting was chaired by His Highness Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Supreme Council for Youth and Sports first deputy chairman, GSA chairman and Bahrain Olympic Committee president. GSA vice-chairman His Highness Shaikh Salman bin Mohammed Al Khalifa and other board members attended.

Shaikh Khalid praised the GSA’s executive team, led by chief executive Dr Abdulrahman Askar, for its work in developing sport in the kingdom.

Alongside improving how clubs are run, developing young talent was a key focus of the meeting. The board discussed activating a schools and universities sports unit to increase participation, strengthen links with organised sport and help identify promising athletes.

The focus on young Bahrainis extended beyond the playing field, with plans reviewed to create more opportunities for them to work in sport and improve how sporting organisations are structured and run.

Safety at sports facilities was another area addressed; first-aid provision at clubs, federations and other venues was discussed as a way to improve their response to medical emergencies.

Attention then turned to the GSA’s facilities, with the Juffair Youth Centre hall set to be offered for commercial naming rights. It follows Khalifa Sports City and Isa Sports City as the authority seeks to generate greater value from its venues.