Unity and growth in focus as OCA General Assembly opens in Kuwait
KUWAIT CITY, May 10: The 45th General Assembly of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) officially begins today in Kuwait, bringing together presidents and representatives from 45 Asian National Olympic Committees, officials from the International Olympic Committee (IOC), and several leaders of Asian sports federations.
The two-day event opens with a sports and cultural celebration at the Jaber Al-Ahmad Cultural Center, symbolizing unity among Asian athletes. The official assembly session is scheduled for Monday at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel, where key items on the agenda will be discussed.
Dr. Thani Abdulrahman Al-Kuwari, Second Vice President of the OCA and a senior Qatari sports official, expressed deep appreciation for the generous patronage of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, praising his unwavering support for Olympic sports across Asia, exemplified by Kuwait's continued hosting of the OCA headquarters.
He also commended the patronage of His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, describing it as a strong endorsement of the continental sports movement. Dr. Al-Kuwari noted that Kuwait's hosting of this event highlights its significant role in the Gulf.
Highlighting the exceptional nature of this year's assembly, Al-Kuwari emphasized the presence of two IOC Presidents—current President Dr. Thomas Bach of Germany and incoming President Christy Coventry of Zimbabwe, who is set to assume office in June. Their participation underscores the growing influence of the Asian Olympic movement on the global stage.
He lauded the collaborative efforts of Kuwaiti authorities and the OCA team, led by Director General Hussain Al-Musallam, for their meticulous organization and preparations that ensured a successful launch of this high-profile event.
Al-Kuwari revealed that the opening ceremony would celebrate the rich heritage and cultural diversity of Asia's five sub-regions, from West Asia to the Far East. He promised a vibrant and surprise-filled event that reflects the meeting's theme, 'One Asia,' and celebrates solidarity among athletes across the continent.
He concluded by stating that the General Assembly will tackle key issues related to the development of Olympic sports in Asia and the empowerment of athletes of all genders and age groups. He expressed optimism that the outcomes will positively shape the future of sports across all OCA member nations.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Kuwait Times
4 hours ago
- Kuwait Times
Returning pilgrims welcomed home at Kuwait International Airport
KUWAIT: Returning pilgrims receive a welcome gift bag upon arrival at Kuwait International Airport. — KUNA KUWAIT: Pilgrims returning to Kuwait after performing hajj were met with a smooth and well-organized arrival process at Kuwait International Airport on Monday, as national authorities and Kuwait Airways coordinated efforts to ensure comfort and efficiency. Speaking from Terminal 4, Chairman of Kuwait Airways Abdulmohsen Al-Fagaan reaffirmed the airline's commitment to offering a seamless travel experience for Hajj returnees. 'Our goal is to provide all possible comfort and ease for pilgrims returning from the holy sites,' he said, adding that flights arriving from Jeddah, Madinah, and Taif were handled under streamlined procedures designed specifically for this highlighted the close coordination between Kuwait Airways and various government bodies, including the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the Ministries of Interior and Health, and the General Administration of Customs. He credited the success of this year's Hajj operations to months of detailed planning and collaboration with hajj operators and supporting Airways, he noted, forms a dedicated committee each year to oversee hajj and umrah travel. This internal team works across departments to monitor flights, simplify procedures, and meet customer needs from check-in to arrival. 'It's all about delivering the best possible experience to our customers,' Al-Fagaan said. He extended thanks to Kuwait's leadership for facilitating support to Kuwaiti hajj campaigns and congratulated Saudi Arabia for the successful management of this year's pilgrimage season, noting that it was marked by safety, efficiency, and excellent organization. Also on Monday, President of the DGCA Sheikh Hamoud Mubarak Humoud Al-Sabah conducted an inspection tour of the airport to observe arrival operations. Accompanied by Acting Undersecretary of the Ministry of Interior, Major General Ali Al-Adwani, Sheikh Humoud praised the level of organization and the teamwork shown by airport staff and partner agencies. 'Our priority is to provide the best possible service to pilgrims,' he said in a statement to the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA). He emphasized that the welcoming process is the result of a comprehensive, multi-agency plan and the close integration of administrative and security bodies. Returning pilgrims expressed their appreciation for the warm reception and fast processing on arrival. Many praised the high level of coordination and services provided at Kuwait International Airport. — KUNA
Kuwait Times
17 hours ago
- Kuwait Times
Japan, South Korea celebrate World Cup qualification with big wins
South Korea cruised to a 4-0 win over Kuwait OSAKA: Crystal Palace forward Daichi Kamada scored twice for Japan and Paris Saint Germain's Lee Kang-in netted for South Korea as the Asian giants rounded off successful World Cup qualifying campaigns in style on Tuesday. Japan romped to a 6-0 thrashing of Patrick Kluivert's Indonesia in Osaka, while South Korea cruised to a 4-0 win over Kuwait in Seoul where fans were treated to a late appearance by their idol Son Heung-min. FA Cup winner Kamada struck twice in the first half for already qualified Japan, who finished as Group C winners. Takefusa Kubo, Ryoya Morishita, Shuto Machino and substitute Mao Hosoya were also on target against Indonesia, who came fourth in the group and moved on to a further qualifying round. Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu has set the ambitious target of winning next year's World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico. His side will play friendlies against teams from outside Asia over the next 12 months and Kamada is looking to learn from the experience. 'Playing against Asian teams and against the kind of European teams who will be at the World Cup is totally different,' said the 28-year-old. 'As we play these games, we will start to see a lot of areas where we need to improve. We need to come together as a team and overcome these problems when they crop up.' Moriyasu said his players need to keep improving 'in all departments' and praised their attitude against Indonesia. 'The challenge for the players is to break past their limits and grow,' he said. China consolation Wang Yudong's 90th-minute penalty enabled already eliminated China to avoid finishing bottom of Group C with a consolation 1-0 win over Bahrain in Chongqing. Second-placed Australia will face third-placed Saudi Arabia later in Group C in Jeddah to decide the final Asian qualifier from this round. Iran and Uzbekistan are already through to next year's finals from Group A and Jordan will finish second in Group B to South Korea, who secured qualification last week with a game to spare. Jeon Jin-woo, who plays in the K-League for Jeonbuk, gave South Korea a 1-0 half-time lead against Kuwait in Seoul. The Koreans took control after the break with strikes from European-based trio Lee Kang-in of PSG, Oh Hyeon-gyu of Belgium's Genk and Lee Jae-sung of German Club Mainz 05. Tottenham's Son Heung-min, who has been struggling with injury, came on as a 75th-minute substitute to an ovation from the home fans but could not add to the 4-0 margin. Third and fourth-placed teams in each of the three groups go into a fourth round of Asian qualifying with two more places up for grabs. –AFP
Arab Times
20 hours ago
- Arab Times
Kuwait ends World Cup qualifying campaign with a loss
SEUOL, June 10: Kuwait returned from Seoul after suffering a 4-0 defeat against South Korea at the World Cup Stadium in the South Korean capital. The match was the tenth and final round of Group B in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. South Korea finished top of the group with 22 points, while our team remained in sixth and last place with five points. Throughout the qualifiers, the national team played 10 matches, drawing five and losing five. Argentina's coach, Juan Pizzi, started the game with a lineup including Suleiman Abdul Ghafoor, Mishari Ghannam, Mohammed Al-Nassar, Fahad Al-Hajri, Abdulwahab Al-Awadhi, Reda Hani, Ahmed Al-Dhafiri, Jassim Al-Matar, Talal Al-Qaisi, Ahmed Al-Zanki, and Youssef Majed. From the opening minutes, the South Korean team dominated possession and controlled the game, thanks to strong organization and skillful midfield play, launching multiple attacks on Abdul Ghafoor's goal. Kuwait, however, retreated too much into midfield despite the match being a formality—South Korea had already secured the top spot and World Cup qualification, while our team was out of the running for direct qualification and the Asian playoffs. The Koreans varied their attacks well, utilizing both central and wide areas, repeatedly threatening Suleiman's goal. Suleiman's alert goalkeeping kept the scoreline respectable in the early stages. In the 18th minute, Jo Bae nearly scored with a powerful shot from outside the box, which Suleiman deflected for a corner. Korea broke the deadlock in the 30th minute when Jo Won-gyeon scored from a corner, the ball deflecting off Fahad Al-Hajri before crossing the line. Our team's best chance in the first half came in the 38th minute when Ahmed Al-Zanki surged into the penalty area but mishandled a pass intended for Talal Al-Qaisi. The second half saw continued Korean dominance, with two quick goals: Kang Lee scored in the 51st minute, followed by Oh Se-hyun in the 54th minute. O also nearly added a fourth goal two minutes later when his shot hit the post after Abdul Ghafoor's save. To change the game, coach Pizzi made three substitutions, bringing on Fawaz Ayed, Moaz Al-Asima, and Hussein Ashkanani for Reda Hani, Jassim Al-Matar, and Yousef Majed, but the team's performance did not improve. Kuwait earned a corner in the 69th minute, but Fahad Al-Hajri mishandled the delivery, missing the opportunity. Substitute Jeon Lee sealed the victory for South Korea with a fourth goal from inside the penalty area in the 72nd minute.
