SME – By Mohammed Al-Jawker
What I admire about Bahraini sports is its organized institutional work and its approach based on clear strategic planning. Following its remarkable success in organizing the Asian Youth Games, which concluded a few days ago, Bahrain quickly submitted a bid to host the 2027 Arab Games, making it the second Gulf state, after Doha, to host this major Arab Olympic event.
This approach reflects a comprehensive national vision that recognizes that sports are not just about competition, but also a catalyst for tourism, development, and cultural promotion. This is a credit to our brothers in the Kingdom of Bahrain, who deserve all appreciation for this sophisticated thinking and organized institutional work.
I recall here our National Olympic Committee’s experience when we submitted a similar bid to host the Arab Games more than twenty years ago. A decision was made at the time, but unfortunately, it never materialized. Our Arab Olympic dream was thus halted, despite the fact that we possess all the necessary elements: infrastructure, stadiums, halls, and facilities covering all the emirates of the country.
Today, we are capable of organizing an event that surpasses the scale of the Arab Games, provided that efforts are unified and expertise is integrated. This is the essence of true institutional work, and it falls within the responsibilities of the state’s sports bodies, including the Ministry, the Olympic Committee, sports councils, and the Sports Coordination Committee, which was formed after the General Authority for Sports’ board of directors was dissolved.
On another note, the Saudi capital, Riyadh, witnessed the election of Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal as President of the Union of Arab National Olympic Committees for a new term extending from 2025 to 2029. I was particularly struck by his speech in which he affirmed the Union’s solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Palestine and its support for Palestinian athletes who continue to represent their homeland despite the challenges. He emphasized that the Palestinian cause will remain in everyone’s hearts and prayed that peace and justice would prevail in beloved Palestine.
Another historic event was also recorded with the election of Sheikha Hessa bint Khalid Al Khalifa as Vice President representing women, a first in the Arab world, reflecting a qualitative leap in empowering Arab women in sports.
The attendees also approved Bahrain hosting the 18th Arab Games in 2027, with Saudi Arabia hosting the 19th in 2031, in an agreement reflecting the spirit of Gulf and Arab cooperation to serve and develop sports.
Such proactive steps confirm that Arab sports today need cohesion and unity of decision-making more than ever, especially as our region has become a central hub on the global, continental, and Olympic sports map.
I must confess, I had hoped that one of our national administrative experts would be represented on the committees of the Arab Federation, especially since we were among its founding members. Our absence from the scene raises a legitimate question: Why? And God knows best.
