Post by : Badri Ariffin

His Highness Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of the UAE Olympic Committee, graced the opening ceremony of the 4th GCC Games in Doha, Qatar, on Sunday.

This tournament is taking place in Qatar from 11 to 22 May 2026, featuring athletes from the Gulf Cooperation Council.

The UAE is represented by 164 competitors across 17 different sports, including 115 men and 49 women among the delegation.

During the ceremony, Sheikh Mansoor emphasized the role of sports in fostering unity and enhancing ties among Gulf nations. He expressed pride in the UAE’s participation and commended the athletes for embodying the country’s ambitions and leadership’s commitment to sports.

He extended wishes of success to all participating teams and recognized Qatar’s exemplary history in hosting significant sporting events that promote the Gulf on a global stage.

Sheikh Mansoor was accompanied by several officials including His Excellency Dr. Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi, Minister of Sports and Vice President of the UAE Olympic Committee, and other notable figures.

Upon their arrival in Doha, the UAE delegation received a warm welcome from His Excellency Jassim bin Rashid Al Buainain.

The opening ceremony at Al Shaqab Indoor Arena showcased cultural performances celebrating Qatari and Gulf heritage, including an operetta titled “One Gulf... One Heart.”

The UAE flag was carried during the ceremony by Sheikh Ali Jamal bin Nasser Al Nuaimi of the equestrian team and Shouq Al Hammadi from the taekwondo team.

The UAE competitors are engaging in sports such as table tennis, equestrian, swimming, bowling, billiards, boxing, fencing, shooting, 3x3 basketball, taekwondo, athletics, handball, snooker, volleyball, archery, padel tennis, and karate.

Events will be hosted at ten venues throughout Doha, including Aspire Dome, Qatar Sports Club, Lusail Shooting Range, Qatar Bowling Federation Hall, and Duhail Sports Hall.

First held in Bahrain in 2011, the GCC Games saw the UAE place fourth with 26 medals. The nation achieved its best results in Dammam in 2015, winning 73 medals, and finished third in Kuwait in 2022 with 50 medals.

The UAE volleyball team is set to begin its competition against Qatar on 16 May, followed by games against Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Oman in a round-robin format.

Concurrently, the UAE handball team will kick off its match against Saudi Arabia on 15 May.

#world news #Global News #Dubai News #UAE News