Bahrain: Sports as a Bridge of Love and Closer Ties among the Peoples of the GCC Member States
Manama, Sept 2 (KUNA) -- The First Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports, Chairman of the General Authority for Sports, and President of the Olympic Committee of the Kingdom of Bahrain, Sheikh Khaled bin Hamad Al Khalifa, said today that sports have been and will remain a bridge of love and rapprochement among the peoples of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.
This statement was made during a speech delivered by Sheikh Khaled bin Hamad while presiding over the 39th meeting of the GCC Ministers of Youth and Sports, held in the Kingdom of Bahrain. He conveyed greetings from Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and extended best wishes for success to the ministers in their deliberations.
Sheikh Khaled bin Hamad added that the enduring fraternal ties shared by the GCC countries, along with unity in goals and destiny, form the foundation for further strengthening joint Gulf cooperation, particularly in the youth and sports sectors, given their critical role in shaping the future of the GCC states.
He emphasized that young people constitute a fundamental pillar of development and a genuine asset for continued progress and advancement. He expressed Bahrain’s pride in the achievements of the “Youth City 2030” initiative this year, which has provided an advanced model for empowering youth and developing their capacities. He also highlighted the launch of the “Qadaha” training camp as a distinctive initiative aimed at youth and adolescents, featuring educational, mental, and physical challenges and training.
He called on the brotherly GCC states to participate in the Arab Games to be hosted by the Kingdom of Bahrain in 2027, which will serve as a gathering point for the youth and athletes of the Arab world in an atmosphere of fraternity and fair competition.
He also extended best wishes for success to all GCC national teams participating in the 20th Asian Games, to be held in Japan next month. Furthermore, he conveyed sincere wishes for success to the brotherly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in hosting the 27th edition of the Gulf Cup football championship.
Sheikh Khaled bin Hamad stressed that the aspirations of Gulf youth are great, and that the shared goals of the GCC states call for continued efforts to empower Gulf youth, enhance their capacities, and drive Gulf sports toward greater achievements that align with the expectations of the GCC leaders and their peoples.
During the meeting, several agenda items were discussed and adopted, along with the review and approval of various joint youth and sports programs and events. The ministers also discussed ways to enhance cooperation and coordination between GCC states in the youth and sports sectors, contributing to the advancement of joint Gulf efforts and the realization of Gulf youth aspirations. (End) K.N.A. / M.A.A.
