(MENAFN- Gulf Times) The 12th edition of the Schools Olympic Program launch was marked by a very high and distinguished attendance of officials at the Tariq Bin Zayed Secondary School yesterday morning.
Those present included Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) secretary-general Jassim al-Buainain, Qatar Sports School Federation (QSSF) president Rabi'a al-Kaabi, Ministry of Education and Higher Education under-secretary Dr Ibrahim al-Naimi, Olympic Sports Department director Saif al-Nuaimi, Olympic Academy director Hamad al-Nuaimi, School principal Hamad al-Mannai, QSSF Board member Nasser al-Malki, Qatar Football Association's Development Department director Fahd Thani Zara, and many other officials.
The opening was marked by the recitation of verses from the Holy Qur'an and Qatar's national anthem.
This year, the Schools Olympic Program (SOP) is being unveiled in a new version which will see more participation in terms of schools and students.
The first of the competitions will include basketball, volleyball, handball, tennis, table tennis, fencing and gymnastics, weightlifting, swimming, chess and taekwondo, besides special needs competitions. The competition will be organised with a special day at the Suhaim Bin Hamad Stadium at Qatar Sports Club.
Expressing happiness on the distinguished start, QSSF president Rabi'a al-Kaabi said, 'We now have 420 schools and a large number of students which represents a great success for the new version of the Schools Olympic Program.
'This great participation also reflects on the importance of sport for everyone's health which is an important goal for the Program.
'The school community is the target of the Schools Olympic Program. Presenting the Program to a number of talented students for clubs and associations as well as the Aspire Academy represents a great success for the programme and I wish success to all of them.
Tariq Bin Zayed Secondary School Principal al-Mannai said, 'It is a great honour for our school to have been chosen for the opening of SOP. We are keen to participate actively in the national events, and it is our endeavour to harness the students' potential to participate in such cherished events.
QSSA secretary-general and Qatar Gymnastics Federation president Ali al-Hitmi said, 'The simplicity of the opening of this season shows our desire to find interaction with the schools and takes us closer to them. Our aim is to encourage students to practice sport through the environment in which they live.
'We have chosen to hold matches in this season's edition in schools so that the students enjoy their environment. It would also help create the spirit and enthusiasm where the pride of their school will push the student players to give off their best, he added.
The Director of Student Assessment Department at the Ministry of Education and Higher Education Fahad Ali al-Naama said, 'The Ministry of Education is the foundation of this programme, providing talent and budding players to different sports teams,.
Khalil al-Jaber, Director of Sports Affairs at the Olympic Committee and President of the Qatar Swimming Federation said, 'The Olympic Program has been a national project since its first launch. It aims to discover talent and presented many talents in various games. I wish all the federations to make great use of it and follow their competitions to choose talents in all games.
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