Kuwait City, Kuwait, October 13, 2024: The President of the Olympic Council of Asia, Mr. Raja Randhir Singh, expressed his gratitude to Kuwait on behalf of the Asian Olympic family and the 45 member National Olympic Committees of the OCA during a meeting at Bayan Palace on October 9.
President Singh extended his thanks to His Highness the Amir of the State of Kuwait, Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, and His Highness the Crown Prince, Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Sabah, for the warm reception he received during his visit to Kuwait.
Mr. Singh mentioned that he had visited Kuwait on several occasions, with the first visit dating back to 1983, during which he met the martyr Sheikh Fahad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, just one year after the headquarters of the OCA was transferred from New Delhi, India to Kuwait in 1982. His visits to Kuwait continued regularly, except for the period during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mr. Singh added: "I conveyed to His Highness the Crown Prince the gratitude and appreciation of the Asian Olympic family to Kuwait for agreeing to continue hosting the headquarters of the OCA.
“Kuwait has hosted the OCA headquarters for 42 years and, during the 43rd OCA General Assembly in Bangkok on May 11, 2024, all 45 member states unanimously approved the continuation of the headquarters in Kuwait."
The OCA President emphasized that Kuwait's support for the OCA over the past four decades has greatly contributed to strengthening the unity and development of the Asian Olympic movement. This was highlighted by the outcomes of recent OCA meetings in Bangkok and New Delhi, as well as the performances of Asian NOCs in the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
The President noted that the roots of the OCA went back to 1913 in Manila and the first Far Eastern Championship Games with the aim of promoting sports and youth development in Asia, including the establishment of major sporting events such as the Asian Games.
The first modern Asian Games were held in New Delhi, India in 1951, following the formation of the Asian Games Federation in 1949.
Sports can play a crucial role in enhancing diplomatic relations between nations, a concept known as "sports diplomacy," where sporting events are used to foster understanding and cooperation among the people of Asia.
Mr. Singh expressed his gratitude to His Highness the Crown Prince’s ongoing hosting of the OCA, which will further enhance Asian cooperation in sports and youth development.
He also expressed hope for continued collaboration in the coming years, and looked forward to the upcoming OCA General Assembly meeting to be held in Kuwait in 2025.