QOC Secretary-General visits French National Institute of Sport, Expertise and Performance in Paris
Tribune News Network
Paris
H.E. Jassim bin Rashid Al Buenain, Secretary-General of the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC), led a delegation from the QOC on an official visit to the French National Institute of Sport, Expertise and Performance (INSEP) in Paris. The visit marked a significant step in strengthening strategic relations with leading global institutions in the fields of sports development and national team preparation.
During the visit, H.E. QOC Secretary-General held a meeting with Fabien Canu, Director General of INSEP where the two parties explored opportunities for the exchange of best practices, collaboration in academic and qualification programs, and technical cooperation in the areas of athlete care and performance optimization. The meeting also reviewed ways to align preparations for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, with both Qatari and French Olympic teams gearing up for the road ahead.
The discussions covered INSEP's key success stories in education, sports medicine, and high-performance training, and its central role in preparing France's national teams for major international competitions.
The QOC delegation also toured INSEP's world-class facilities, including its training venues, medical centers, and athlete support services. The visit provided valuable insights into INSEP's integrated model for nurturing Olympic and Paralympic talent, and the advanced systems in place to support athlete development across all disciplines.
France's INSEP, established in 1945 and operating under the Ministry for Sports, is regarded as the country's benchmark institution for elite sport. It plays a central role in the national Olympic and Paralympic strategy, with nearly 50% of France's Olympic medals attributed to athletes who train at INSEP—underscoring its vital contribution to international sporting success.
The visit reaffirmed the QOC's commitment to forging meaningful partnerships with global centers of excellence, as part of its vision to elevate the standards of sport in Qatar and support the ambitions of Team Qatar athletes on the world stage.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Qatar Tribune
an hour ago
- Qatar Tribune
Al Mohannadi leads talks in Tashkent to strengthen ATTF's partnership with Uzbekistan
Tribune News Network Tashkent Khalil bin Ahmed Al Mohannadi, President of the Qatar, Arab, and Asian Table Tennis Federations, led a high-level delegation from the Asian Federation on an official visit to the Uzbek capital, Tashkent. During the visit, he met with a number of senior government and sports officials, including Mr. Kudbiev Sherzod Davletovich, Chairman of the Tax Committee and President of the Uzbek Table Tennis Federation. The visit aims to strengthen regional sports cooperation and explore prospects for developing the game in Central Asia. The meeting, held at the headquarters of the Uzbek Tax Committee, marked an important milestone in the partnership between the Asian Federation and Uzbekistan. Future plans for the development of table tennis were reviewed, particularly in light of the remarkable organizational and logistical success of the 29th Asian Youth Championship currently being held in Tashkent, with the participation of 361 players from 22 countries, amid widespread acclaim from international delegations and observers. Al Mohannadi expressed his deep appreciation for Uzbekistan's efforts in supporting table tennis, stressing that the excellent organization of the current tournament reflects the country's genuine commitment to advancing this sport. He also praised the quality of the facilities and the smooth organization of the 'Homo' complex, which hosted world-class competitions. During the meeting, Al Mohannadi emphasized that the Asian Federation is confident in Uzbekistan's ability to host the 2026 Asian Championships at an exceptional level. He noted that the country's successive successes in organizing tournaments, along with its advanced infrastructure, make it an ideal candidate to host one of the most important upcoming continental events. The meeting also addressed the importance of Central Asia as a strategic region on the global table tennis map. Long-term projects were discussed, including the establishment of regional training centers, the expansion of youth programs, and the enhancement of expertise exchange with member states. They also included supporting training and technical education initiatives, which would contribute to building a new generation of players and coaches in the region. Khalil Al Mohannadi emphasized that the partnership with Uzbekistan goes beyond hosting tournaments, extending to deeper levels of technical, technological, and administrative cooperation. He said the AFC's desire is to make Uzbekistan a pivotal partner in implementing continental development projects, and that this partnership represents a true model of complementary roles between sports institutions and national governments. The meeting participants also praised the growing role of sports tourism in supporting the local economy. The current Asian Youth Championship demonstrated Uzbekistan's great potential to attract international visitors and highlight the country's cultural and civilizational heritage. Mr. Kudbiev noted this, explaining that the Uzbek government views sports as a fundamental pillar of sustainable development plans. The meeting concluded with an affirmation of mutual optimism about the future of table tennis in Uzbekistan and Central Asia, and a commitment from both sides to continue working together to expand the game's horizon.
Qatar Tribune
an hour ago
- Qatar Tribune
Haydos recalled from retirement for Qatar's 2026 World Cup Qualification Playoffs
Tribune News Network Doha Hassan Al Haydos, who led Qatar at FIFA World Cup 2022 following their fairytale Asian Cup triumph in 2019, has come back from his retirement from the national team to lead Al Annabi through the 2026 World Cup Qualification Playoffs. The Qatar Football Association (QFA) in a statement on Saturday said that Al Haydos will be rejoining the squad for the 2026 World Cup Qualification Playoffs at the request of coach Julen Lopetegui. It stated: 'Hassan Al Haydos is at the forefront of the national team squad for the 2026 World Cup qualification playoffs, in a positive move responding to coach Julen Lopetegui's request to strengthen the team with experienced players. 'His presence is expected to bring both technical and emotional value, providing leadership and support in the pursuit of the big dream that will delight Al Annabi's fans the dream of securing a place at the World Cup.' A cool forward, Al Haydos has so far made 183 appearances for Qatar since his debut in 2008 scoring 41 goals. He had also been a part of Qatar U23 and U20 squads. The 33-year-old had announced his retirement from the national team on 16th March 2024. Last week, Qatar Stars League champions Al Sadd had announced the renewal of their captain Al Haydos' contract. One of the best Qatari footballers over the years, Al Haydos has been with Al Sadd since 1998. Al Haydos has been at the heart of Al Sadd's success for more than two decades. He rose through the club's youth system before making his senior debut in the 2006–2007 season. Since then, he has played a vital role in guiding the team to numerous domestic and continental triumphs, including league titles and the AFC Champions League. The club had emphasized the desire to retain the veteran player in recognition of his immense contributions, leadership, and unwavering loyalty to the team. 'I thank the club for their trust and the renewal of the contract. I am very happy at Al Sadd, which is my home,' Al Haydos had said. 'Leadership is a responsibility, and the Al Sadd players are like my brothers. We have been playing together for a long time. Our goal as a family is one — to always keep Al Sadd at the top.' Qatar's hopes of qualifying for the 2026 tournament rests on the play-offs after the team finished fourth in their third-round qualifying group, missing out on an automatic berth. The teams that placed third and fourth in each of the three third-round groups will be regrouped into two new pools for the next stage. The stakes remain high - top teams from each group will go straight to the World Cup, while the second-placed sides will move on to the fifth and final round of qualification. The fourth-round draw is slated for July 17, with matches kicking off in October.
Qatar Tribune
an hour ago
- Qatar Tribune
Marc fends off Alex Marquez for Dutch MotoGP sprint win
Agencies Assen (Netherlands) Marc Marquez bounced back from two crashes in practice to win the Dutch MotoGP sprint race on Saturday admitting his body would not have 'taken another fall'. The 32-year-old Spaniard started from the second row of the grid but rapidly seized control on his Ducati to ease to his ninth win in 10 sprint races so far this season. The six-time world champion's younger brother Alex Marquez (Ducati-Gresini) finished second with Italy's GB MotoGP winner Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia) third. Marquez's Ducati team-mate Italy's two-time world champion Francesco Bagnaia lost more ground in the title race, finishing fourth. 'I was not expecting to win starting from the second row but I had an excellent start and I focussed on being error-free throughout the race,' said Marquez. 'I am relieved because I think my body would not have taken another fall.' Fabio Quartararo will start from pole on Sunday, after posting the fastest time in qualifying, but the 26-year-old French Yamaha rider will hope for a better return than he got in the sprint. The 2021 world champion -- who has failed to convert his previous three pole positions into victories in the MotoGPs this season -- crashed four laps from the finish whilst in fourth spot. 'On Sunday I will have new tyres, because it will be hotter than today,' said the Frenchman. Bagnaia -- seeking a fourth successive victory on the track reverentially referred to as the 'Cathedral of Speed' -- and other riders will entertain some hope they can deny Marquez victory in Sunday's race. The Spaniard's Ducati lacked grip at the back and he appeared to be ill at ease on sector three of the circuit. 'I did have difficulties on corner 11,' he conceded. Marquez moved on to 282 points and extended his lead in the standings to 43 points over Alex with Bagnaia 117 points adrift.
