Manama : Under the patronage of His Highness Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, His Highness Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Supreme Council for Youth and Sports First Deputy Chairman, General Sports Authority (GSA) and Bahrain Olympic Committee President (BOC), the Bahrain Olympic Academy held a graduation ceremony for six administrative and technical courses.
His Highness Shaikh Salman bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, Vice President of the General Sports Authority, honoured the graduates at a ceremony held at the Wyndham Grand Manama.
The ceremony was attended by His Highness Shaikh Isa bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, President of the Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation (BREEF); His Highness Shaikh Isa bin Ali bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, BOC Vice-President; Dr. Abdulrahman Sadiq Askar, the CEO of the GSA; Faris Al Kooheji, the BOC Secretary General; Makis Asimakopoulos, the Director of the International Olympic Academy, and Mohammed Hassan Al Nisf, the Advisor to His Highness the President of the Olympic Committee.
HH Shaikh Salman bin Mohammed Al Khalifa honoured 81 graduates who passed the Advanced Sports Management Diploma, the Olympic Studies Diploma, the National Coaches Programme, the Olympic Mission graduates, the Physical Literacy Lecturer Preparation Programme, and the National Coaches Programme Level 4 graduates.
The sponsors and supporters were also honoured, including the Labour Fund (Tamkeen), the University of Bahrain (UoB), and Mahzooz Gulf.
Asimakopoulos delivered a speech at the Bahrain Olympic Academy graduation ceremony. He thanked the Bahrain Olympic Committee for the invitation and expressed pride in the close cooperation between the IOA and its Bahraini counterpart.
Asimakopoulos presented a commemorative gift to HH Sheikh Salman bin Mohammed Al Khalifa.
He also presented Dr Nabil Taha, the Director of the Bahrain Olympic Academy, with a photo of HM the King’s signature on the 1981 decree that established the Bahrain Sports Institute, which later became the Bahrain Olympic Academy.