Kuwait City, Kuwait, April 1, 2022: The Director General of the Olympic Council of Asia, Mr. Husain Al Musallam, has promised to expand the inaugural OCA special development project for coaches and referees across Asia after the second phase of the pilot programme came to a successful end on Thursday, March 31.
“I’m very pleased with the outcome of this new project and looking ahead, we will most certainly expand the programme to include National Olympic Committees from the other four zones in Asia,” revealed Mr. Al Musallam.
Mr Al Musallam was speaking after handing out OCA Certificate of Participation to more than 35 football referees who completed a five-day level two programme. Football was one of three sports in phase two – along with gymnastics and judo – from March 27-31.
Handball, volleyball and swimming were part of the phase one programme completed earlier in March. A total of 12 National Olympic Committees across West Asia participated by sending coaches and referees to the OCA-organised event.
“We started this with the cooperation of IOC Olympic Solidarity, the International Federations, the Asian Federations and the National Olympic Committees in West Asia and I’m very happy to see all participants, coaches, referees and instructors enjoy the seminars and stay in Kuwait,” said Mr. Al Musallam.
The OCA Director General continued: “The OCA decided to carry this out as we felt it is our duty to develop the technical aspects of our coaches and referees, and not only focus on the athletes.
“At the Asian Games now, there are more than 42 sports, and we need to develop our technical standards to the highest level and pay special attention to a very important part of sport – our coaches and referees.
“This is why it is crucial that we expand this programme in the future to cover all of Asia. We started in West Asia, now we will go to the rest of Asia,” Mr. Al Musallam added.
The third phase of this project will be held from June 4-9, after the month of Ramadan as well as the GCC Games which Kuwait will host from May 22-31.
Football referees clamoured to have their photos taken with the OCA Director General who personally handed out the certificates on Thursday at a ceremony held at OCA headquarters.
“I’m so happy to receive this certificate from the OCA director general Mr. Husain. It feels like I have accomplished something big,” said Mohamed Rashed Ismael, a referee from Bahrain.
United Arab Emirates referee Bader Bujamhoor added: “It has been a wonderful five days. All of us learned a lot. It was hard work but at the end of the day, it is very satisfying, especially when you get a certificate like this.”