HRH the Crown Prince of Bahrain launches the 2018 Youth Summit

Manama, Nov. 28 (BNA): His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister today launched the 2018 Youth Summit, at Isa Town Sports City. The summit is organised by the National Programme for the development of Youth and Sports Sector - Estijabah. Upon arrival, HRH the Crown Prince was received by the Representative of HM the King for Charity Work and Youth Affairs, Chairman of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sport and President of Bahrain Olympic Committee, His Highness Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa. During the launch of the summit, HRH the Crown Prince emphasized that investing in Bahrain’s youth and placing them at the core of future development initiatives is a strategic goal within the Kingdom’s comprehensive development programme, led by HM King Hamad. HRH the Crown Prince noted the importance of the Summit as an opportunity to align public-private sector youth and sports initiatives, and to build on the skills attained by Bahrain’s youth in order to meet the Kingdom’s development goals. HRH the Crown Prince went on to praise the efforts of HH Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa in further developing the Kingdom’s youth and sports sector, which has seen far-reaching achievements regionally and internationally, through the introduction of various creative and innovative initiatives and programmes designed to support the Kingdom’s youth. HH Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa then went on to deliver a speech in which he expressed gratitude and appreciation for HRH the Crown Prince’s kind patronage of the summit, adding that this reflects HRH the Crown Prince’s continued commitment to supporting Bahrain’s youth. HH Shaikh Nasser highlighted that HM the King is an inspiration for Bahraini generations, and through his guidance, Bahrain was able to overcome many challenges, and was able to reach great achievements across various sectors. HH Shaikh Nasser further highlighted the broad participation of Bahrain’s youth in the recent democratic voting process, noting the successful voter turnout, which reflects the Bahraini youth’s awareness, engagement and recognition of the Kingdom’s comprehensive development programme, led by HM the King. HH Shaikh Nasser also went on to note three main principles to be learnt from HM the King, which include the promise of Bahrain reaching worldwide recognition through various remarkable achievements, some that are currently being achieved, and this principle is driven by patriotism. The second principle is to shed light on the shortcomings that have previously hindered work needed to reach various successes, and to address these shortcomings in the best way possible. The third principle is to uplift those who have reached various achievements, to motivate them further to achieve greater successes, and to motivate others to overcome any challenges and reach for their dreams. HH Shaikh Nasser emphasized the importance of adopting a positive outlook on life, and to stay away from frustration, despair and words that destroy one's ambitions. In this regard, HH Shaikh Nasser noted the importance of replacing these negative thoughts with hope and to work to achieve ones aspirations. HH Shaikh Nasser further emphasized that positivity and hope cannot be instilled, except if Bahraini citizens and youth embrace patriotism, and if an environment suitable for Bahrain’s youth to express themselves and their potential is created. Moving on to Estijabah (Response) - a programme designed to support the youth and sports sector, HH Shaikh Nasser explained that the title is self-explanatory and is a "response" to HM the King’s vision, and HRH the Crown Prince’s aspirations particularly within the Bahrain Economic Vision 2030- a program that has been developed to reach the visions and strategies within the Kingdom’s comprehensive development program, led by HM the King, aimed at further advancing the Kingdom of Bahrain. HH Shaikh Nasser emphasized that the Kingdom is confidently moving towards creating a fair competitive environment in order to reach the visions of Bahrain’s Economic Vision 2030 and reach global achievements that the world will be proud of. HH Shaikh Nasser added that this can be achieved by a long process of planning, work and striving to reach desired goals. HH Shaikh Nasser then praised the national initiative, #TeamBahrain, initiated by HRH the Crown Prince. In this regard, HH Shaikh Nasser added that the concept reflects the Kingdom’s team spirit, and the idea of working as one team- a responsibility of all Bahraini’s. HH Shaikh Nasser noted that the initiative has many noble values that exceed the limits of a collective picture of a team working as one. On further discussing the #TeamBahrain initiative, HH Shaikh Nasser highlighted that the message of His Highness the Crown Prince is clear, namely that no achievement can be reached by any public or private entity except by working together as one team to overcome any obstacles and reach strategic goals that reflect positively on the image and achievements of that institution. HH Shaikh Nasser then went on to note his personal experience winning the IRONMAN World Championship held last month in the United States of America. In this regard, HH Shaikh Nasser explained that it was a unique experience, as he learnt a lot from the whole process. One of the most important lessons learnt was to set a specific goal and the continuous hard work and efforts put into reaching the goal. On discussing his experience and journey participating in triathlon races, HH added that since his humble beginnings he did not place any specific goal he wanted to achieve. With time, HH Shaikh Nasser started to compete with the top winners of global triathlon races, and asked what steps they have taken to reach their goals and win various championships, and that it has taken him 4 years of hard work to achieve a historic win. HH Shaikh Nasser further added that in most times he faced despair, frustration and inability to continue, but during those times he remembered his national duty as a citizen, received HM the King’s support, and strived to make the Kingdom, and its citizens proud. HH Shaikh Nasser then spoke transparently about the obstacles currently being faced by the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports, and explained that the main obstacle was the need to increase the effectiveness of public-private sector cooperation on the programs and visions set by the Council. As well as the need to provide assistance and support to the Council since the responsibility lies with all. HH Shaikh Nasser concluded by emphasizing the importance of cooperation among all, and given the large presence of high officials within this summit, he highlighted the importance of introducing a new concept of exercising in the office before the workday starts to all government bodies and ministries, given its importance to a society’s growth and its reflection on job achievement. Two short films were then shown regarding the main objectives of the Estijabah programme as well as the numerous initiatives and programmes provided by various government entities directed at youth. The 2018 Youth Summit provided four interactive sessions titled "Youth Aspirations & the Future", "City of the Future", "Sports as an Industry", and "Entrepreneurship & innovation".