Ali Al Hitmi (right), Secretary General of the Qatar School Sports Association (QSSA) announcing details about the Schools Olympic Program at a press conference in the presence of Abdulrahamn Al Muftah, the Executive Director of QSSA, and Fajar Al Kubesi,
Qatar's hugely popular initiative - the Schools Olympic Program - will start its 10th edition on February 19, it was announced yesterday.
Students of independent schools will feature in this year's edition set to end in the first week of May, it was confirmed yesterday.
Competitions will be held in seven disciplines, three team and four individual events, officials said.
"This year's Schools Olympic Program will be conducted by the Qatar School Sports Association (QSSA) and will be supported by the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC)," Ali Al Hitmi, Secretary General of the QSSA, said during a press conference yesterday.
“It’s a big challenge for us as we have to conduct all the events in just two months. Due to time constraints only independent schools will be part of the programme this year. But from next year we are planning to include all the schools,” he added.
Abdulrahamn Al Muftah, the Executive Director of QSSA, and Fajar Al Kubesi, Coordinator of the SEC, were also present during the press conference.
"I would like to express my gratitude to Fawzia Al Khater, the Director of Education Institute at the Ministry of Higher Education. We have a very good cooperation with all the stakeholders as we carry out the program over the course of the Schools Olympic Program," Al Hitmi added.
"This program of ours has wide appeal and is very popular among schoolchildren," he said.
"We hope we can discover some exciting talent, especially since coaches from all federations will be a close eye on the program.
"Qatar has had tremendous success over the years. We are into our 10th year since this initiative was launched," he said.
The competitions will be held in football, basketball, handball, shooting, gymnastics and swimming.
"We are still awaiting on the final list of the schools featuring in this year's program," Al Hitmi said.
Al Muftah said: "The 10th edition of the Schools Olympic Program is a challenge we look forward to with great interest. Sports at school level is very important for kids. We thank HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, President of the Qatar Olympic Committee, and Dr. Thani Al Kuwari, the Secretary-General of QOC, for their continued support."
Al Kubaisi said: "There is a lot of interest for such a venture around schools in Qatar. We want to tap into that interest and teach the kids the finer points about sportsmanship and fair play. We want to nurture that talent at the same time."
