Doha, Qatar, May 6, 2026: H.E. Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, President of the Qatar Olympic Committee and President of the Olympic Council of Asia, attended the finale of the Schools Olympic Programme at the Aspire Dome in Doha on Tuesday, May 5.
Also in attendance were Sheikh Suhail bin Butti Al Maktoum, President of the UAE School and University Sports Federation; Sheikh Dr. Saqer bin Sulaiman Al Khalifa, President of the Bahrain School and Collegiate Athletic Association; Hamad Abdullah Al Hamad, President of the Kuwait School Sports & Higher Education Federation; and Mrs. Hasnae El Ayoubi, Executive Director of the International School Sport Federation.
This year’s edition witnessed wide participation, with approximately 25,000 students from public and private schools competing across 21 sports, including athletics, swimming, football, cricket, basketball, gymnastics, volleyball, table tennis, karate and judo.
The Schools Olympic Programme was established in response to an initiative by HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Amir of the State of Qatar, with the Qatar Olympic Committee organising the programme in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, the Qatar School Sport Federations and the Qatar Paralympic Committee.
From the Qatar side, the event was attended by H.E. Dr. Thani bin Abdulrahman Al Kuwari, Second Vice President of the Qatar Olympic Committee; H.E. Jassim bin Rashid Al Buenain, QOC Secretary General; Dr. Ahmad Abdulla Al-Buenain, Chief Executive Officer of the Doha 2030 Asian Games Organising Committee and Director General of the Organising Committee of the FIBA Basketball World Cup Doha 2027; Abdulla Al Nuaimi, Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Aspire Zone Foundation; and Abdulrahman Al Muftah, Executive Director of the Schools Olympic Programme, along with a number of presidents of national sports federations.
The Schools Olympic Programme was first launched in 2007-2008 season as a national initiative under the slogan "Sport and Health", forming part of the legacy of the Doha 2006 Asian Games. The programme aims to promote sports culture in schools, identify and develop young talent and encourage a healthy lifestyle among students.