Khalid bin Hamad visits handball, basketball, swimming associations

Manama, Sept. 1 (BNA): HH Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, First Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports (SCYS), President of the General Sports Authority and President of the Bahrain Olympic Committee (BOC) has visited Bahrain Handball Association, Bahrain Basketball Association and Bahrain Swimming Association premises. Accompanying His Highness were HH Shaikh Salman bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, Vice President of the General Sports Authority President of Bahrain Combat Sports Council, Dr Abdulrahman Sadiq Askar, CEO of the General Sports Authority. The visits came as part of HH Shaikh Khalid’s keenness to support local sports associations to implement its programmes and plans to improve the level of sports and sportspersons, in a manner that is consistent with the policies of the General Sports Authority, in order to redouble efforts to accomplish more achievements in the Kingdom’s sports sector. HH Shaikh Khalid met during the visits with HE MP Ali Isa Ishaqi, President of Bahrain Handball Association, HE Captain Waleed Abdulhameed Al Alawi, President of Bahrain Basketball Association and HE Consultant Dr Mohammed Ahmed Mujbal, President of Bahrain Swimming Association. On this occasion, HH Shaikh Khalid valued the great efforts exerted by the associations and federations towards organising local competitions and contests, and to create an ideal environment to prepare our national teams to make honourable participation. At the same time, His Highness praised the exceptional achievements accomplished by these associations in various events and urged them to maintain their efforts in order to promote sports in the Kingdom. Moreover, HH Shaikh Khalid reviewed the plans and programmes that will be carried out by the associations, in order to develop both sports and upgrade the capabilities of the sportspeople practicing these games at regional and international levels. For their part, the representatives of the associations thanked HH Shaikh Khalid for the visit, stressing that it reflects His Highness' care and interest in all sports and sportspeople, stating that they mirror His Highness' keenness to support the efforts that target achieving comprehensive development in all sports, in order to accomplish further successes. They pledged to His Highness to continue their efforts towards meeting this objective.