Gulf Olympic Committees adopt unified platform to boost women's sports
KUWAIT CITY, May 11: Sheikh Fahad Nasser Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, President of the Kuwait Olympic Committee, chaired the 37th meeting of Presidents of the Olympic Committees of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states in Kuwait. At the opening of the session, Sheikh Fahad extended his gratitude to the State of Qatar – its leadership and people – for the generous and successful hosting of the 36th Council meeting. He also commended the continuous efforts of the National Olympic Committees across the GCC for their pivotal role in advancing the Olympic and sports movement in the region.
The meeting reviewed several key topics, including recommendations from the Executive Office and a memorandum by the General Secretariat focused on the development and strengthening of the Gulf sports system. The memorandum detailed steps taken by member states to support the capabilities of National Olympic Committees, aiming to foster an environment conducive to creativity, athletic development, and excellence among Gulf athletes in 2026. The Council approved the Kuwait Olympic Committee's request to host the second Gulf Youth Games in 2028, while Qatar was granted hosting rights for the fourth Gulf Games in 2026. Additionally, the United Arab Emirates received approval to organize the inaugural Sports Law and Management Conference in 2026.
The Council reaffirmed its commitment to advancing women's sports by approving full support for the Unified Platform for Gulf Women's Sports and establishing the Gulf Women's Sports Hackathon as a recurring event, under the oversight of the Advisory Committee for Women's Sports. A new Planning, Coordination, and Follow-up Committee was formed, composed of experienced representatives from member states. The committee will oversee the execution and progress of sports initiatives, with the Executive Office responsible for monitoring and approving its outcomes, along with those of other affiliated committees and working groups.
The Council also approved the Executive Office's recommendation and the General Secretariat's report concerning the working group reviewing the regulations for the Gulf Sports Games. The updated framework, now titled 'Regulations for Organizing Sports Games in the Gulf Cooperation Council Countries', will cover the four main Gulf tournaments ratified at the 92nd Executive Office meeting (Bahrain, 2021), in addition to any future events established under the GCC sports framework. The 38th meeting of the Council of GCC Olympic Committee Presidents is scheduled for May 5, 2026, preceded by a preparatory Executive Office meeting on May 4, 2026. The UAE, which will assume the Council chairmanship, will coordinate with the General Secretariat to finalize arrangements for the upcoming sessions.
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