Latest news with #OlympicMovement
Qatar Tribune
4 days ago
- Sport
- Qatar Tribune
Sheikh Joaan announces candidacy for OCA presidency
Tribune News Network Doha HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, President of the Qatar Olympic Committee and Senior Vice-President of the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC), has announced his candidacy for the Presidency of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), reaffirming his commitment to contributing to the development and unity of Asian sport in the years ahead. The announcement follows the Olympic Council of Asia's official call for nominations for the presidential elections, issued on 15 July 2025, in preparation for the upcoming General Assembly, which will be held in January 2026 in the city of Tashkent. On this occasion, Sheikh Joaan expressed his sincere gratitude and appreciation to Raja Randhir Singh, the current OCA President, for his significant contributions and dedicated leadership in advancing Asian sport, as well as his unwavering commitment to strengthening solidarity and cooperation among National Olympic Committees across the continent. Sheikh Joaan also fully supported the OCA Executive Board's decision to appoint Raja Randhir Singh as Honorary Life President of the Olympic Council of Asia, in recognition of his longstanding service and enduring legacy in the Olympic Movement in Asia. Sheikh Joaan affirmed that his candidacy is rooted in a strong belief in the power of sport to foster development and unity among nations. He emphasised the potential of Asian sport to achieve transformational progress in areas such as governance, sustainability, digital transformation, and athlete empowerment. He also highlighted the importance of promoting fairness in opportunity distribution, strengthening collaboration among NOCs, enhancing sports infrastructure, and creating greater platforms for youth and women to take part in shaping the future of sport in Asia. Sheikh Joaan's candidature is built on an ambitious strategic vision for Asian sport, grounded in five core pillars: solidarity, digital transformation, sustainable development, credibility, and economic and financial resilience. It is underpinned by his extensive experience in sports, his proven track record at the helm of the Qatar Olympic Committee, and his active role in the international Olympic Movement, particularly as Senior Vice President of ANOC. The upcoming OCA election is expected to draw significant interest from the international sporting community, amid growing global challenges and the need for dynamic leadership that promotes transparency, cooperation, and innovation across the Asian sports landscape. Founded in 1982 and headquartered in Kuwait City, the Olympic Council of Asia is one of the most prominent continental sports organizations. It brings together 45 National Olympic Committees and plays a pivotal role in coordinating regional sports activities, supporting development initiatives, and enhancing cooperation in governance, infrastructure, and institutional capacity building. The OCA also oversees the organization of major multi-sport events including the Asian Games, Asian Winter Games, Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games, Asian Beach Games, and the Asian Youth Games - competitions that continue to elevate Asia's sporting profile on the world stage.
ILoveQatar.net
4 days ago
- Sport
- ILoveQatar.net
H.E. Sheikh Joaan to run for Olympic Council of Asia Presidency in 2026
H.E. Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al-Thani, President of the Qatar Olympic Committee and Senior Vice President of the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC), has officially announced his candidacy for the Presidency of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), reaffirming his commitment to contributing to the development and unity of Asian sport in the years ahead. The announcement follows the Olympic Council of Asia's official call for nominations for the presidential elections, issued on 15 July 2025, in preparation for the upcoming General Assembly, which will be held in January 2026 in the city of Tashkent. On this occasion, H.E. Sheikh Joaan expressed his sincere gratitude and appreciation to H.E. Raja Randhir Singh, the current OCA President, for his significant contributions and dedicated leadership in advancing Asian sport, as well as his unwavering commitment to strengthening solidarity and cooperation among National Olympic Committees across the continent. His Excellency also fully supported the OCA Executive Board's decision to appoint H.E. Raja Randhir Singh as Honorary Life President of the Olympic Council of Asia, in recognition of his longstanding service and enduring legacy within the Olympic Movement in Asia. H.E. Sheikh Joaan affirmed that his candidacy is rooted in a strong belief in the power of sport to foster development and unity among nations. He emphasised the potential of Asian sport to achieve transformational progress in areas such as governance, sustainability, digital transformation, and athlete empowerment. He also highlighted the importance of promoting fairness in opportunity distribution, strengthening collaboration among NOCs, enhancing sports infrastructure, and creating greater platforms for youth and women to take part in shaping the future of sport in Asia. His Excellency's candidature is built on an ambitious strategic vision for Asian sport, grounded in five core pillars: solidarity, digital transformation, sustainable development, credibility, and economic and financial resilience. It is underpinned by His Excellency's extensive experience in sports, his proven track record at the helm of the Qatar Olympic Committee, and his active role within the international Olympic Movement, particularly as Senior Vice President of ANOC. The upcoming OCA election is expected to draw significant interest from the international sporting community, amid growing global challenges and the need for dynamic leadership that promotes transparency, cooperation, and innovation across the Asian sports landscape. Founded in 1982 and headquartered in Kuwait City, the Olympic Council of Asia is one of the most prominent continental sports organisations. It brings together 45 National Olympic Committees and plays a pivotal role in coordinating regional sports activities, supporting development initiatives, and enhancing cooperation in governance, infrastructure, and institutional capacity building. The OCA also oversees the organisation of major multi-sport events, including the Asian Games, Asian Winter Games, Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games, Asian Beach Games, and the Asian Youth Games - competitions that continue to elevate Asia's sporting profile on the world stage.
News18
04-07-2025
- Politics
- News18
Denying Visas To Athletes On Political Grounds Violates Olympic Charter, May Risk Future Hosting Rights
Sources in the sports ministry said that the Olympic Charter states that every individual must have access to the practice of sport without discrimination of any kind, in line with internationally recognised human rights. Non-Discrimination Principle The Charter prohibits discrimination based on nationality, ensuring all qualified athletes can participate in international competitions, regardless of political relations between countries. Political Neutrality of Sport The Olympic Movement emphasises autonomy and independence from political interference. Denying visas on political grounds violates this principle. Impact on Future Hosting Rights International Precedent There are many precedents of IOC sanctions on India. India denied visas to athletes from Kosovo in 2018 for participation in the World Boxing Championship 2018. India denied visas to 2 athletes and one official from Pakistan for participation in the ISSF Rifle/Pistol World Cup in 2019. The International Olympic Committee, in its letter on 21.2.2019, informed that its Executive Board took the following decisions: (i) Suspend all discussions with the Indian NOC and government regarding potential applications for hosting future events and Olympic-related events in India until clear written guarantees are obtained from the Indian government to ensure the entry of all participants in events in full compliance with the rules of the Olympic Charter. (ii) Revoke the Olympic qualification status of the specific event (men's 25-metre Rapid Fire Pistol) (iii) Recommend that international federations neither award nor hold sports events in India until guarantees are obtained. There are a few international precedents as well. In the 2019 World Para Swimming Championships, Malaysia denied visas to Israeli athletes. The IPC stripped Malaysia of hosting rights, reinforcing the expectation that hosts must allow entry to all qualified athletes. The event was moved to London, and the IPC reaffirmed its commitment to inclusivity and the separation of sport and politics The United Arab Emirates in 2009 denied a visa to Israeli tennis player Shahar Pe'er in the Dubai Tennis Championships. The WTA fined Dubai organisers and required future compliance. The following year, visas were granted after international pressure. India at the 2019 ISSF World Cup denied visas to Pakistani shooters post-Pulwama attack. The IOC suspended India's right to host Olympic qualifiers until assurances were given for future non-discrimination.
News18
02-07-2025
- Politics
- News18
Gujarat's Harsh Sanghavi Leads Ahmedabad's Olympic Vision At Laussane
Harsh Sanghavi led discussions at the Olympic Headquarters in Switzerland to explore Ahmedabad's potential to host future Olympic and Paralympic Games. The Minister of Sports for the State of Gujarat, Harsh Sanghavi, spearheaded Ahmedabad's aspirations to host future Olympic and Paralympic Games during a visit to the Olympic Headquarters in Switzerland. Sanghavi shared on social media that the discussions aimed to 'gain valuable insights' into the requirements for hosting such a significant event. 'At Olympic Headquarters, engaging in fruitful discussions as part of the IOC's 'Continuous Dialogue' process to explore India's Amdavad potential to host a future Olympic and Paralympic Games. 'The discussions provided a vital platform for the Indian delegation to articulate their vision for hosting a future Olympic Games in Amdavad. Concurrently, they gained invaluable insights from the IOC regarding the requirements for the Olympic Games and its ambitions for the future of the Olympic Movement," read Sanghavi's post on 'X.' At Olympic Headquarters, engaging in fruitful discussions as part of the IOC's 'Continuous Dialogue' process to explore India's Amdavad potential to host a future Olympic and Paralympic Games. — Harsh Sanghavi (@sanghaviharsh) July 2, 2025 The discussions provided a vital platform for the Indian delegation to articulate their vision for hosting a future Olympic Games in Amdavad. Concurrently, they gained invaluable insights from the IOC regarding the requirements for the Olympic Games and its ambitions for the… — Harsh Sanghavi (@sanghaviharsh) July 2, 2025 This important dialogue with the IOC and its Future Host Summer Commissions for the 2036 Summer Olympics aims to assess the feasibility of India hosting a future edition of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. The Indian delegation was led by Harsh Sanghavi and IOA President P.T. Usha, and included senior officials from the IOA, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sport, and the Government of Gujarat. The discussions provided a vital platform for the Indian delegation to articulate their vision for hosting a future Olympic Games in Ahmedabad, while concurrently gaining invaluable insights from the IOC regarding the requirements and ambitions for the Olympic Movement, as shared by senior officials of the Gujarat government. 'We are thrilled to have concluded a productive visit to Lausanne, the Olympic Capital, where we engaged in the International Olympic Committee's 'Continuous Dialogue' process," Sanghavi's post read. Currently, besides Ahmedabad, Nusantara (Indonesia), Istanbul (Turkey), and Santiago (Chile) have officially bid for the 2036 Olympic Games. Egypt, South Africa, South Korea, Doha (Qatar), Riyadh (Saudi Arabia), Budapest (Hungary), Florence-Bologna or Turin (Italy), and Copenhagen (Denmark) have expressed interest in hosting the mega Games.
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Business Standard
02-07-2025
- Politics
- Business Standard
Indian delegation engages IOC in discussions to host future Olympic Games
A delegation, featuring IOA President P T Usha and Gujarat's Minister of State for Sports Harsh Sanghavi, met officials of the International Olympic Committee here to "explore the opportunity and feasibility of India hosting a future edition of the Olympic Games". The delegation was here despite new IOC President Kirsty Coventry declaring that the entire host selection process was being paused and a working group being set up to figure out the "appropriate time" to identify a future host. She had, however, made it clear that officials from India, which is seeking to host the 2036 Games, were welcome to engage in a dialogue. The delegation also included senior officials from the IOA (Indian Olympic Association), the central sports ministry and the government of Gujarat, which is positioning itself as the future host. "This crucial exchange aimed to explore the opportunity and feasibility of India hosting a future edition of the Olympic and Paralympic Games," stated a press release from the visiting delegation. "The discussions provided a vital platform for the Indian delegation to articulate their vision for hosting a future Olympic Games in Amdavad (Ahmedabad)," it added. It said the exchange will help the India team "sharpen its ambition". "India's engagement with the Olympic Movement is at a transformative moment, one that goes beyond competitive sports to embrace the true spirit of Olympism - that is promoting peace, education and cultural exchange through sports," stated Usha. "The Olympic Games in India would not just be a spectacular event, they would be one of generational impact for all Indians." Sanghavi said the state is committed to hosting the Games. "Our investments in sport and our commitment to the Olympic Movement are a testament to this. Hosting the Games would be a monumental step for Gujarat, fostering unprecedented growth and inspiring a new generation. "We are eager to be a true partner to the IOC in the coming months of this process and, hopefully, in the years to come, as we work together to realize this shared ambition," he added. In her first press conference after taking charge, Coventry declared that there was an overwhelming support from the IOC members for a pause and review of the future host election process. "(This is) for two main reasons. Firstly, members want to be engaged more in the process and secondly there was a very big discussion on when should the next host be awarded," she added in her opening remarks after the two-day meeting. Coventry said the executive board members felt that the experience of already decided future hosts -- Los Angles (2028 Summer Games), Brisbane (2032 Summer Games), French Alps (2030 Winter Games) -- needs to be studied before proceeding on future proposals. India submitted a Letter of Intent to host the 2036 Games in October last year.
