DOHA: President of the Qatar Olympic Committee H E Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani attended the closing day of the boys’ competitions at the 19th edition of the Schools Olympic Program, held at Aspire Dome.
The concluding event was also attended by a number of prominent regional and international sports officials, including Sheikh Suhail bin Butti Al Maktoum, President of the UAE School and University Sports Federation; Sheikh Dr. Saqer bin Salman Al Khalifa, President of the Bahrain School and Collegiate Athletic Association; Hamad Abdullah Al Hamad, President of the Kuwait School Sports and Higher Education Federation; and Hasnae El Ayoubi, Executive Director of the International School Sport Federation.
From the Qatari side, the ceremony was attended by HE Dr. Thani bin Abdulrahman Al Kuwari, Second Vice President of the Qatar Olympic Committee; HE Jassim bin Rashid Al Buenain, Secretary-General of the Qatar Olympic Committee; Dr. Ahmad Abdulla Al-Buenain, Chief Executive Officer of the Doha 2030 Asian Games Organizing Committee and Director General of the FIBA Basketball World Cup Qatar 2027 Organizing Committee; Abdulla Al Nuaimi, Acting CEO of Aspire Zone Foundation; and Abdulrahman Al Muftah, Executive Director of the Schools Olympic Program, alongside several presidents of national sports federations.
This year’s edition recorded extensive participation, with around 25,000 students from public and private schools competing across 21 disciplines. The programme featured a diverse range of sports, including football, basketball, volleyball, gymnastics, swimming, padel, fencing, table tennis, athletics, wrestling, taekwondo, shooting, karate, judo, boccia, chess, cricket, weightlifting, esports, rowing, and the Mini Basketball World Cup.
The Schools Olympic Program was established following an initiative by HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Amir of the State of Qatar, with the Qatar Olympic Committee overseeing its organisation in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, the Qatar School Sport Federation, and the Qatar Paralympic Committee.
First launched during the 2007–2008 season under the slogan “Sport and Health,” the initiative forms part of the enduring legacy of the Doha 2006 Asian Games. Since its inception, the programme has played a pivotal role in promoting a culture of sport within schools, identifying and nurturing young talent, and encouraging healthy, active lifestyles among students across Qatar.
The successful staging of the 19th edition further reinforces the programme’s status as a cornerstone of Qatar’s youth development and sports strategy, reflecting the nation’s continued investment in grassroots participation and future athletic excellence.
