Al-Zubair heads OOC delegation at the 34th GCC NOCs meeting
Oman Olympic Committee (OOC) participated in the 34th meeting GCC NOCs, which was held yesterday, “Friday” in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. OOC was represented in the meeting by Khalid bin Muhammad Al Zubair, OOC President, His Highness Sayyid Azzan bin Qais Al Said, OOC Vice Chairman, and Taha bin Suleiman Al Kishry, OOC Secretary General.
At the beginning of the meeting, the attendees expressed their thanks and gratitude to their Majesties and Highnesses, the leaders of GCC, for their wise guidance, keenness and great interest in the people of GCC, and their pivotal role in achieving the desired sustainable development, stressing the keenness of GCC OOCs to develop work in the sports system, in order to achieve the aspirations of GCC athletes, and to provide an environment that motivates them to innovate, develop and excel.
The attendees were briefed on the memorandum of General Secretariat regarding the final statement of the Supreme Council at its forty-second session, which is related to developing joint work in all fields and enhancing the gains of the Cooperation Council. The aspirations and hopes of the athletes of the GCC countries, and the provision of an environment that motivates them to innovate, develop and excel. It was also agreed that the Gulf Olympic Committees would submit to the General Secretariat their views and proposals on developing joint Gulf action in the sports field, and exchanging efforts, expertise and experience to benefit from them.
The heads of GCC NOCs reviewed the decisions of the Ministerial GCC at its (153) session held in September 2022 on the protection of moral, religious and family values in GCC societies, and the importance of coordinating and unifying the diplomatic positions of GCC NOCs in regional and global forums, and solidarity in facing any pressures targeting Arab and Islamic societies in their identity, with the tasking of the follow-up committee for the implementation of the strategic plan to include what was stated in the decisions of the Ministerial Council to the strategic plan, including the importance of spreading value and moral awareness in GCC societies.
In follow-up to the recommendation issued by GCC Executive Office in their 95th meeting, which was held in Kuwait in May 2022. The Council approved changing the name of GCC Sports Disputes Settlement Commission to GCC Sports Arbitration Commission, with the approval of the proposed budget for it.
The attendees reviewed the general secretariat’s memorandum regarding the conditions of the organizing committees for sports, and it was agreed to end the work of the organizing committees, and to form 4 advisory committees for organizing and following up joint sports work represented by the Sports Committee, the Women’s Sports Committee, the Athletes Committee, and the Paralympic Sports Committee “People with Disabilities”. Provided that it is directly linked to the Executive Office, and carries out its work according to the tasks assigned to it, and the presidency of these committees is according to the state of the presidency of GCC countries.
The Council was also briefed on the report of the third GGC Sports Games that was held in Kuwait in May 2022, and the members expressed their thanks and appreciation to Kuwait for the resounding success that was achieved and the distinguished efforts it made in organizing the tournament and managing this major sporting event with ease and ease after a hiatus that witnessed seven years of organizing the second edition in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 2015. The Council also thanked the GCC NOCs, the General Secretariat and all those who contributed to the success of the session.
In order to ensure the continuity of the GCC sports tournaments, the Council reviewed the calendar of sports courses for the next five years, represented by the first GCC Sports Games for juniors and youth that will be held in the United Arab Emirates next year, and the Gulf Sports Games for martial arts and halls to be held in 2024 in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. In addition to the 4th GCC Sports Games that will be held in Qatar in 2026, and the 3rd GCC Sports Games for Beach Games to be held in the Kingdom of Bahrain in 2027. The Council thanked the GCC NOCs for their initiative to host the sports courses, and the Executive Office for including many diverse sports courses that serve the Council’s athletes, with an emphasis on the continuity of holding the courses and commitment to the dates and places of hosting them as much as possible to support and strengthen brotherly ties among the youth of the GCC countries and develop the levels of sports teams. The Council also emphasized the participation of women in all sports tournaments, and considered increasing the number of sports for women in these courses. It was agreed to organize the combined club championship for the league champions for collective games starting next year, provided that the General Secretariat coordinates with GCC NOCs in this regard.
In implementation of the lofty directives issued by GCC Supreme Council regarding strengthening cooperation and partnerships with international organizations active in the field of sports, and after the discussions that took place at the 95th meeting of the Executive Office that was held in Kuwait in May 2022 regarding finding joint work programs to stand on the experiences and expertise of these organizations. The Council agreed to add a new article related to opening the way for countries outside GCC to participate in courses, events, sports activities and others in the rules of procedure of GCC NOCs and the regulations for joint work in the field of sports.
At the end of the meeting, the Council took note of Oman’s hosting of the 35th meeting of and the preparatory meeting for it.
On the other hand, OOC delegation participated in the opening ceremony of the first edition of the Saudi Games, which was held yesterday, “Friday” at King Fahd International Stadium in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, under the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and generous support from His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince and Prime Minister. More than 6000 athletes and 2,000 technical and administrative supervisors representing more than 200 clubs from all over the Kingdom will participate in the Games, and compete in 45 individual and team sports, including 5 games dedicated to Paralympic sports.
