
Embassy celebrates 60th anniversary of Kuwait-Canada ties
KUWAIT: The Canadian Embassy in Kuwait commemorated the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Canada and Kuwait with a spirited ice hockey match on Saturday, marking a significant milestone in the enduring partnership between the two nations. Held in collaboration with the Kuwait Winter Games Club, the friendly game between the Canadian Mooseheads and the Kuwait Stars drew a lively crowd of families, hockey fans, and dignitaries.
Spectators of all ages filled the stands, waving Canadian and Kuwaiti flags and cheering for their teams in a vibrant display of camaraderie. Canadian Ambassador Aliya Mawani, speaking at the event, underscored the cultural significance of the sport. 'Ice hockey is a core part of Canadian identity, and it's inspiring to see how it's been embraced here in Kuwait, bringing together players from all over the world,' she said in her opening remarks.
The match was part of a broader, year-long celebration of Canada-Kuwait ties, with events throughout 2025 showcasing shared values through art, music, business, and education. Ambassador Mawani highlighted the power of sports in building bridges between cultures, telling Kuwait Times, 'It's really wonderful to see how sports can be a great vehicle for empowerment—for both girls and boys—in terms of building confidence, skill, and teamwork. People-to-people connections are at the heart of strong bilateral ties, and today's match truly captured that spirit.'
Canadian Ambassador Ambassador Aliya Mawani and Chairman of Kuwait Winter Games Club Fehaid Al-Ajmi take group photo with Kuwait Stars And Canadian Mooseheads.
Canadian Ambassador Aliya Mawani and Chairman of Kuwait Winter Games Club Fehaid Al- Ajmi
The game itself was a thrilling contest, ending in a tie that led to a dramatic tiebreaker. In the end, the Canadian Mooseheads clinched victory, but the true triumph lay in the spirit of friendship and mutual respect displayed on and off the ice. Long-time Canadian resident in Kuwait, Debra Clark, who has lived in the country for 18 years, reflected on the significance of the moment. 'You don't often get to watch your home team play live when you're abroad. This event brought the Canadian community together in such a meaningful way,' she said.
Kuwaiti attendee Sabeekah Al-Bahar said she was drawn to the event to celebrate the long-standing friendship between the two countries. 'I was amazed by the high level of skill and challenge on the ice. Both teams were incredibly professional—it was such a joy to watch,' she said. The stadium echoed with energy as fans donned team jerseys and celebrated the occasion with cheers and chants. Among them was Walid Elawadly, a Canadian living in Kuwait, who attended with his family. 'It brings me so much joy to see Kuwait's team playing so well. This was a match we were really looking forward to, and it didn't disappoint,' he said.
Also present was Fehaid Al-Ajmi, Chairman of the Kuwait Winter Games Club, who praised the growing popularity of ice hockey in Kuwait. He noted the club's ongoing efforts to promote the sport among men, women and youth, providing new avenues for athletic development and empowerment. The evening's festivities underscored the deep and evolving relationship between Canada and Kuwait, with the ice rink serving as a stage for shared celebration, sporting excellence and lasting friendship.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Arab Times
10 hours ago
- Arab Times
Al-Arabi lines up UAE friendlies ahead of crucial AFC clash
KUWAIT CITY, July 27: Al-Arabi is scheduled to play two friendly matches against UAE sides Hatta and Baniyas on July 31 and August 6, respectively, as part of its training camp in Abu Dhabi, which runs until August 8. The club is ramping up preparations for a crucial AFC Challenge Cup playoff match against Maldives' Maziya Sports on August 12. The game, which will determine a spot in the group stage, is set to take place at the Maldives National Football Stadium at 3:00 p.m. local time. Meanwhile, reports from Iraqi media suggest that Baghdad-based powerhouse Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya (Air Force Club) has shown serious interest in signing Al-Arabi and Kuwait national team player Bandar Al-Salamah. An initial inquiry has been made, and the club has reportedly set a condition for preliminary approval before engaging in formal negotiations. If the deal materializes, Al-Salamah would become the first Kuwaiti footballer in the history of the Iraqi Premier League. Currently, Al-Salamah is absent from Al-Arabi's training camp as he continues a rehabilitation and treatment program in Dubai following a successful knee-cleaning procedure and protective support installation performed earlier this month in Kuwait. If the transfer goes through, Al-Salamah will be the second player to leave Al-Arabi this season, after defender Hassan Hamdan joined Jordanian club Al-Ahli earlier in July. Al-Arabi's Portuguese head coach Marco Alves has intensified training in anticipation of the Maziya match. Players recently completed morning workouts at the camp's fitness center, followed by evening sessions on the field. Kuwait Club continues its daily training under Montenegrin coach Nebojsa Jovovic in preparation for the 2024-25 Zain Premier League season, which kicks off on September 12. The team will soon depart for a 20-day training camp in Prague, Czech Republic, which will include four friendly matches. In the domestic transfer market, Qadsia and Kuwait national team defender Yousef Al-Haqqan is reportedly close to joining Salmiya for the upcoming season. Salmiya's training sessions have already seen the arrival of new Jordanian signing Hossam Abu Dhahab. In a related development, former Salmiya head coach Ante Miša bid farewell to players before the start of a recent training session.


Arab Times
a day ago
- Arab Times
Kuwait youth team intensifies training in Serbia with daily double sessions
BELGRADE, July 26: The Kuwaiti youth national team continues its daily training sessions—held both morning and evening—as part of its ongoing camp in Serbia in preparation for upcoming competitions. The coaching staff remains focused on raising the players' physical readiness, ensuring full squad preparedness, and strengthening team cohesion during this important phase. Ayman Al-Husseini, member of the Kuwait Football Association's Board of Directors and head of the team's delegation, expressed his gratitude to Fahad Al-Tawajer, Diplomatic Attaché at the Kuwaiti Embassy in Belgrade, for his consistent support and follow-up with the delegation throughout the camp.


Arab Times
3 days ago
- Arab Times
Kuwait takes on UAE as the Arab Basketball Championship begins in Bahrain
MANAMA, July 24: Kuwait will tip off its campaign in the 26th Arab Basketball Championship this evening with a match against the UAE national team at 6:00 pm, as part of the first round of the tournament currently being hosted in Bahrain until August 2. The opening day will also feature two other matches: Tunisia vs Algeria at 4:00 pm, and host Bahrain plays Qatar at 8:00 pm. A total of seven teams are competing for the title: UAE, Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria, Bahrain, Qatar, and Kuwait. The competition will follow a single round-robin format, with all teams facing each other once. The team with the highest points at the end will be crowned champion. All matches are being held at Khalifa Sports City Hall. As part of its preparation, the Kuwaiti team held an external training camp in Turkey, where it played three friendlies against Algeria, Saudi Arabia, and Azerbaijan. The team is led by Serbian head coach Oliver Kostić and assistant coach Khaled Al-Qallaf. Coach Kostić described the tournament as a valuable opportunity for the squad's young players, many of whom are experiencing their first major international competition. 'We played several friendly matches in the Istanbul camp, which helped create harmony among the players,' Kostić said upon arriving in Bahrain. 'We have a young team that we are trying to prepare for the future by allowing some players to participate alongside the experienced players.' Ahmed Al-Balushi echoed the coach's sentiment, calling the tournament a chance to build a new core of players and allow emerging talent to gain experience at a high level. 'The tournament is very strong, with teams that have long histories in this competition,' he said. 'But we will give our best to perform at a decent level and present a respectable image to Kuwaiti fans.'