
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
3 hours ago
- Kuwait Times
Kuwait adds four medal in Asian shooting contest
LINFEN: Kuwait shooting team added on Wednesday four medals (gold, silver and two bronze) in the ongoing Asian Shooting Championship in the Chinese city of Linfen with the participation of a large number of Asian teams, raising its balance to seven different medals in a great achievement for the sport of Kuwaiti shooting. President of the Kuwait and Arab Shooting Federations and head of the delegation participating in the tournament Engineer Duaij Khalaf Al-Otaibi expressed his wishes for Kuwait's shooters to achieve more victories in the name of Kuwait in the upcoming competitions, as the national shotgun team will participate in the Amir Cup and the World Cup, which will be held in (Italy) in the coming period. It is noteworthy that of Kuwait (skeet) shooters achieved three medals in the championship competitions (two gold and bronze) after the shooter Mansour Al-Rashidi won the gold of the individual competitions and the shooter Abdulaziz Al-Faihan won the bronze of the same competition, while shooters Mansour Al-Rashidi, Abdulaziz Al-Saad and Abdulaziz Al-Mandeel won the gold for the men's team. Al-Otaibi said in a statement that the medals came after the brilliance of shooters in the (trap) competitions , where shooters Abdulrahman Al-Faihan, Talal Al-Rashidi and Nasser Al-Muqlid won the gold medal in the men's team competition. Al-Otaibi pointed out that the Kuwait shooters Shahd Al-Hawal, Sarah Al-Hawal and Reem Al-Zamanan won the silver medal in the women's team competition, while Abdulrahman Al-Faihan won the bronze medal for the singles competition, as Nasser Al-Muqlid and Sarah Al-Hawal won the bronze medal in the mixed doubles competition. Al-Otaibi dedicated this outstanding achievement in his name and on behalf of the members of the Board of Directors and shooters to His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al- Hamad Al-Sabah, His Highness the Prime Minister, and the honorable Kuwaiti people. He emphasized that these achievements were made by Kuwait's shooters in these difficult competitions that witnessed the participation of the most important champions of the continent that are a source of great pride for the Kuwait shooting community, praising the role of the technical and administrative staff accompanying the delegation as well as the high technical level of shooters, as these results came. He stated that this great achievement of Kuwait's shooters in the championship, which was recorded in the name of their country, will be an important motivation for them to achieve qualifying seats for the next Olympic Games (Los Angeles 2028), especially since they have the talent, determination and high technical level that enables them to achieve this goal. - KUNA


Arab Times
5 hours ago
- Arab Times
Maqsid: Kuwait must rebuild with young talent after World Cup qualification failure
KUWAIT CITY, June 11: Nothing has changed—only renewed disappointment and another early exit for the Blues from the Asian qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup. Despite having their first real opportunity in 18 years, Kuwait's national team failed once again to advance, falling short in the group stage without a single victory and earning just 5 points out of a possible 30. The team finished last in their group, trailing behind sides like Palestine, whose football has been disrupted by war since October 2023, and Oman, a team Kuwait hasn't beaten in more than 25 years. Former national team coach Jawad Maqsid attributes Kuwait's decline to the lack of local talent and weak domestic performances. 'The league lacks quality, and most local clubs no longer produce talented players. They rely instead on ready-made options,' Maqsid stated. He added, 'There's a clear absence of promising Kuwaiti players. Is it possible that a country like Kuwait has no footballing talent? The last standout was Bader Al-Mutawa. Since then, no player has emerged to captivate the fans.' Maqsid stressed the urgent need for the Kuwait Football Association to invest in youth development, with structured plans and programs that prioritize age-group competitions. Maqsid suggested a complete overhaul of the national team: 'All current players should be released, and a foreign coach with knowledge of Gulf football should be appointed, along with two Kuwaiti assistants.' He emphasized that this new technical staff must have full authority to select players without interference. He also pointed out that local players have not significantly benefited from the presence of foreign professionals, citing their average skill levels. 'Relying on aging players has become part of the problem—youth must now be the focus.' In the wake of the team's failure, the Kuwait Football Association (KFA) issued an apology to fans, expressing deep regret over the national team's early elimination from the qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. The association acknowledged the previous board's decision to appoint the current coaching staff and explained that the current administration chose not to disrupt the team during the qualifiers, particularly due to the high cost of terminating head coach Juan Pizzi's contract, estimated at over one million dollars. Nevertheless, the KFA stressed that reforms will not be delayed. Plans are in motion to prepare the team more effectively and professionally for upcoming competitions. The KFA has already begun reviewing the résumés of several foreign coaches as it looks to replace Argentine Juan Pizzi. The objective is to rebuild the squad ahead of the crucial playoff match against Mauritania in late November—a qualifier for the Arab Cup, scheduled to be held in Doha in December.


Arab Times
6 hours ago
- Arab Times
Saudi Arabia begins preparations for the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup
KUWAIT CITY, June 11: The Saudi national football team begins its training today in preparation for the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup, the premier tournament for North, Central America, and the Caribbean, set to take place from June 14 to July 6 across the United States and Canada. The tournament draw, held in April, placed Saudi Arabia in Group D, alongside the United States, Haiti, and Trinidad and Tobago. Notably, Al-Hilal players were excluded from the 25-man squad due to their club's involvement in the FIFA Club World Cup, also being hosted in the United States. Saudi Arabia's Gold Cup campaign kicks off on Sunday, June 15, against Haiti in San Diego. The team will then face the United States on June 19 in Austin, before concluding the group stage on Sunday, June 22, against Trinidad and Tobago in Las Vegas. In a historic move, CONCACAF invited Saudi Arabia to participate in both the 2025 and 2027 editions of the Gold Cup, marking a significant step in strengthening intercontinental football cooperation.