First International Sport for All Festival kicks off

21 nations from around the continents to compete in event

MANAMA, Bahrain, Dec 2: The First International Sport For All Festival is set to begin today at the Khalifa Sports City in Isa Town, with 21 nations from all around the continents in the fray.

Teams from the Arab region and overseas will compete in a variety of sporting events during the three-day festival, organized by the Bahrain Sports For Al Federation (BSFA), and is set to commence at 4 pm.

There are 13 regional countries in the fray, namely Qatar, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, Yemen, Palestine, Egypt, Jordan, Libya, Sudan, Tunisia and host country Bahrain.

Other delegations have come from Turkey, Serbia, Kazakhstan, Brazil, Romania, Greece, Cameroon and Burundi.

The main competitions are futsal, volleyball, basketball, table tennis and walking beside other entertaining contests.

Bahrain’s main objective behind this pioneering festival is to boost the sport culture among all the generations and to bring the nations together in peace and love.

The event is patronized by vice-chairman of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa.

The Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) represented by the Qatar Sport For All Committee, has sent five athletes for the event. They are Fajr Al Attiyiha, Abeer Al Kawari, Fatima Al Darhim, Naseem Al Marri and Zahrah Al Nuaimi.

Qatar’s delegation to the festival is chaired by Head of Sport Events Unit at the QOC Sport Affairs Department Walid Al Khanji, and is accompanied by Abdulaziz Al Ghanim, Abdullah Yousif, Ahmed Khaleel, Ghanim Al Shahwani.

Khanji said the QOC always keen to participate in all the festivals, events and activities that serve the society, targeting all age categories.

“QOC has strong belief that sports play a significant role in improving the mental and physical abilities,” he said.

The organsinig committee, headed by Bahrain Sport for All Federation president Isa Abdulrahim, has put its finishing touches by holding the final rehearsal at Khalifa Sports City’s gym.

More than 100 young volunteers from different govern- ment girls schools are participating at the opening ceremony today, when they perform entertaining dances and songs that represent the history and heritage of Bahrain.

They have been trained by a team of experts, including Rasha Shahda, Noora Mubarak, Samira Ahmed, Hala Mubarak, Rufayda Buchiri, Abeer Al Mutawa, Aisha Al Mulla and Hajer Faraj.

BSFA also named its sub committees for the festival. Abdulrahim is the executive committee head, with Dr Khalid Al Ruwaie being deputy head, Kadim Al Saeed treasurer and Dar Tareq Al Shaibani and Sameer Abdulqader directors.

Other officials are Anwar Bukamal, Maryam Qamber, Mohammed Lori, Jaffer Al Kharraz, Mohammed Mejbel and Majed Mohammed.