DOHA: The Middle East is committed to empowering the youth of the region through sports activities, this was said in the closing remarks on the final day of a special meeting attended by heads of the GCC National Olympic Committees in Doha.
Qatar’s Youth and Sports Minister H E Salah bin Ghanem bin Nasser Al Ali attended the final day’s proceedings which also saw the attendance of deputy ministers of the five other GCC nations Abdulrahman Al Matieri (Kuwait), Suleiman Al Misnad (Saudi Arabia), Khaled Issa (the UAE), Hisham bin Mohammed (Bahrain) and Rashad bin Ahmed (Oman).
Abdulrahman Al Dosari and Abdulrahman Al Hajri, representing the Youth and Sports Minister’s office, said the GCC officials overwhelmingly ‘supported Qatar hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
“We discussed what was initially agreed in the previous meeting. We also agreed to work on the plans we talked about at length previously,” Al Dosari said
“Basically we talked about programmes that would help empower the youth of the region through sports,” he added.
“The region believes in the changes that can be brought about through sports activities. We believe in our youngsters,” Al Dosari added.
“The GCC officials have given a rally call on the 2022 FIFA World Cup to be held in Qatar. The GCC countries fully support the event taking place in Qatar,” Al Dosari said.
“The GCC officials feel that a World Cup in Qatar actually promotes the region. It is not just our World Cup. It is a World Cup that belongs to the entire region,” Al Dosari said.
Qatar will become the first country in the Middle East to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
“Like H H the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani said that 2022 FIFA World Cup is for the entire region. The Sports Minister H E Salah bin Ghanem bin Nasser Al Ali also endorsed the same view point,” Al Dosari said.
“We would like our youth to be part of the 2022 FIFA World Cup and contribute in a major way. The youth will take the football movement forward when they become part of the sports industry in the country,” he said.
“We made a presentation on the activities of Jusoor Institute. Sports management is serious business and we showed our list of programme to our guests.
“As you know Saudi Arabia will host this very meeting next year in February. We have not decided on the dates but probably in February or March,” Al Dosari said.
On Sunday, Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Secretary General of the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC), welcomed participating delegates at the summit taking place at Sheraton Doha Hotel.
Sheikh Saoud on Sunday said the meeting attended by the Secretaries General of the GCC Olympic Committees will be making recommendations on how to get more young people interested in sports.
Also on Monday, Mohammed Ali Al Kamali, Secretary General of the UAE Olympic Committee praised Qatar’s National Sports Day.THE PENINSULA
