Shaikh Nasser calls for a national conference

Supreme Council for Youth and Sports chairman and Bahrain Olympic Committee President Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa yesterday (MONDAY) called for a national conference to develop sports in Bahrain. The initiative is in line with directives of His Majesty King Hamad to help Bahraini sports reach higher standards, as all sports bodies with related specialties to be invited to attend the conference. This came during the 16th meeting of the BOC board of directors held at the committee premises in Seef District. Shaikh Nasser welcomed the board members and stressed the importance of working as one team for the advancement of the sports sector in the kingdom, praising the organization of the ongoing Third GCC Women Sports in Bahrain. Shaikh Nasser also lauded the achievements of the Bahraini athletes in the Games and commended the efforts of the BOC, the Executive Committee and all the sub committees. The board then discussed its new strategy for the 2013 to 2017 period and the new logo of the BOC. In this regard, BOC general secretary Shaikh Ahmed bin Hamad Al Khalifa made a presentation on this strategy that takes into account the advancement of various staff working at the Olympic Committee and sports federations. The board has decided to launch its new strategy and the logo in May on the sidelines of GCC Olympic Committees Presidents meetings, which will be held in Bahrain during this period. Also during the meeting, the BOC approved Bahrain's participation in the Third Olympic Solidarity Games in Indonesia from June 6 to 16. Sameer Shuwaiter was named director of the Bahrain delegation to Indonesia, where the kingdom will be taking part in karate and taekwondo. Bahrain is also due to compete in three disciplines – bowling, billiards and swimming at the Fourth Asian Indoor Games in South Korea from June 29 to July 6, with Saud Al Ghunaim to head the Bahrain delegation. In the Second Asian Youth Games, scheduled to be held in Nan Jing, in China from August 16 to 24, Fahad Al Khathlan will lead four teams from Bahrain – handball, table tennis, fencing and athletics. The meeting concluded with Shaikh Nasser directing the executive directorate of the BOC to begin its preparations to hold the General Assembly meeting and conduct the elections for the next term board. From BNA