Manama : His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, has deputised His Highness Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, First Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports (SCYS), Chairman of the General Sports Authority (GSA), and President of the Bahrain Olympic Committee (BOC), to attend the opening ceremony of the International School Games (ISF) Gymnasiade Bahrain 2024.
In his remarks, HH Shaikh Khalid expressed gratitude to HM the King for his generous support of the Gymnasiade, highlighting the event as a vital opportunity for fostering cooperation among nations through sports.
HH Shaikh Khalid emphasised Bahrain’s commitment to supporting athletes and providing the conducive environment for them to excel. His Highness noted that this aligns with His Majesty’s vision to further develop the country’s sporting achievements on a global level.
Furthermore, HH Shaikh Khalid highlighted the broader value of the event, as it provides an opportunity for countries to share experiences and develop different sporting disciplines. His Highness also added that school sports are a key foundation for nurturing future athletes, and that Bahrain aims to invest in this platform to strengthen school sports and prepare young athletes for international competitions. This focus on school sports, His Highness said, is part of Bahrain’s long-term strategy to ensure lasting sporting success.
His Highness thanked government and official entities that contributed to the successful organisation of the event and wished all participating students success.
The opening ceremony, attended by senior officials and members of the royal family, began with the national anthem, followed by a Quran recitation by student Isa Yousif Al Jalal from Al Hidaya Al Khalifia Secondary School.
Delegations from 70 countries then entered in the parade of athletes, marking the largest sports procession ever hosted by Bahrain.
In his speech at the event, Minister of Education Dr. Mohammed bin Mubarak Juma, Chairman of the ISF Gymnasiade Bahrain 2024 delivered a speech expressing pride in His Majesty’s support for the games, reflecting a strong belief in the importance of investing in school sports for the future.
He also thanked His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, for his support and commended the efforts of His Highness Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, His Majesty’s Representative for Humanitarian Affairs and Youth Affairs and Chairman of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports and HH Shaikh Khalid for their continued support.
The minister also extended his appreciation to the ISF for selecting Bahrain to host the event, and expressed his gratitude to all organising committees.
Youssef Belqasmi, First Vice President of the ISF, thanked His Majesty the King for his patronage of the event and expressed pride in the participation of over 5,500 participants from more than 70 countries, making this the largest school sports event the Federation has ever organised.
Following that, Student Mohammed Abulameer Madan from Al Raja School and Lillian Hussain Al Hujairi from Khawla Secondary School for Girls recited the tournament oath.
The ceremony concluded with artistic performances by Bahraini students, showcasing the Kingdom’s history, present, and future, followed by a fireworks display.
