Kuwait City, Kuwait, May 20, 2022: FINA President Husain Al-Musallam was a contented man as he watched the swimming events draw to an end at the 3rd GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) Games Kuwait 2022 on Friday night, May 20.
The four-day swimming fiesta ended on a celebratory note for hosts Kuwait as they dominated the pool winning 12 of the 17 gold medals on offer. But while the action was noteworthy, the swimming world’s top official was quietly celebrating the breakthrough made by the Kingdom in organising a successful multi-sports event.
“I’m happy that six countries and 1,870 athletes are competing at these Games. This is what is important to me. That we have made it happen,” smiled Mr. Al-Musallam, a Kuwaiti national, who is one of the main driving forces behind these Games.
Apart from the top post at FINA, Mr. Al-Musallam wears two other hats. He is the Secretary General of the Kuwait Olympic Committee and the Director General of the Olympic Council of Asia. These two jobs along with the FINA presidency, has left the former commercial pilot having to dexterously juggle the control stick.
“The main goal of these Games is to leave a legacy for our youth. You can easily organise a Games if you bring down experts from overseas and let international companies run things,” pointed out Mr. Al-Musallam.
“But the most important thing is to train the future generations how to run a big event like this. And on that front, I think we have done well, as we have shown, and I think in the future Kuwait can host more big multi-sports events,” said the Kuwaiti livewire.
“Having six countries in 16 sports, bringing them all together, and to have focused on the management, on the IT, on host broadcast TV, and organising high-level Games relying on local talent, is a good start to hosting more multi-sports games in the future,” he concluded.
Yet, pressed for a comment on the supremacy shown by the local swimmers Mr. Al-Musallam finally relented: “Of course I’m happy Kuwait has won so many medals.”
