AlKass Digital
Doha, Qatar- The 12th edition of the Schools Olympic Programme (SOP) began at Tariq bin Zeyyad Independent Secondary School on Tuesday.
The opening day of the Programme witnessed basketball, volleyball and table tennis competitions.
Speaking about this year’s Programme, Rabia Mohamed al-Kaabi, President of the Qatar School Sport Association (QSSA), said: “The increasing numbers of schools participating in the new edition of the Schools Olympic programme reflects the importance of the sport in our community.”
Al Kaabi also stressed that the new edition will feature football festivals for primary schools.
QOC Sport Affairs Director Khaleel al-Jabir touched on the importance of generating ‘talent pool’.
“The SOP is a national initiative which aims at providing the national sport federations and clubs with the opportunity to attract new talents,” he said.
Qatar Gymnastics Federation President Ali al-Hitmi, said: “The Programme provides the students with the space to practice sport and promotes the values of sport as an important factor in building a civilised Qatari society.”
The Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) Secretary General Jassim Rashid al-Buenain, who too graced the opening ceremony, noted that the success achieved by the Programme was the outcome of a strong partnership between the Qatar Olympic Committee and the Ministry of Education and Higher Education.
He added that since its launch in 2007, the Programme has witnessed a number of talented students joining elite sports clubs. From there they had gone on to join national teams and represent Qatar in international events.
This year’s edition of SOP features Football, Handball, Volleyball, Basketball, Tennis, Table Tennis, Shooting, Gymnastics, Chess, Swimming and Taekwondo in addition to the competitions for students with special needs.
The events for special children would be held at the Suhaim bin Hamad Stadium.
Dr. Ibrahim Al Naimi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, was also present on the occasion.