OOC hosts meetings of GCC Executive Office, NOC chiefs

MUSCAT: During the period from October 13 to 16, Oman, represented by the Oman Olympic Committee (OOC), will host the 35th meeting of GCC NOC Heads, preceded by the 97th meeting of the Executive Office (GCC NOCs Secretaries-General), in addition to the second meeting of the Advisory Committee for Women’s Sports.

The meetings will include many topics that will be presented for discussion and the necessary decisions will be taken in the interest of Gulf sports. A number of important sports figures will be present in addition to the presence of a number of representatives of the sports sectors in the GCC countries.

The OOC is completing all its preparations to receive the guests of Oman, in addition to completing all preparations for holding the three meetings. The meeting of GCC NOCs heads and Secretaries-General will be held on October 15-16, while the meeting of the Advisory Committee for Sports of the Women’s Committee will be held on October 14.

A working team has been formed to follow up on the preparations and provide all means to make this important Gulf event a success. A media center will also be established at the delegations’ residences to have a role in conveying the events of these meetings through the media professionals accompanying the participating delegations from the GCC countries and facilitating their media tasks.

Promoting GCC sports

The last meeting (34th) of GCC NOCs heads, held in Saudi Arabia, came out with a number of decisions aimed at promoting and supporting GCC sports and activating joint work, as it was approved to change the name of GCC Sports Dispute Resolution Authority to the Sports Arbitration Authority for GCC Sports Disputes Resolution Authority with the approval of its proposed budget. It was also agreed at that meeting to end the work of the organisational committees, and to form four advisory committees for organising and following up on joint sports work, represented by the Sports Committee, the Women’s Sports Committee, the Athletes Committee, and the Paralympic Sports Committee which are directly linked to the Executive Office, and the heads of these committees will be according to the presidency in the GCC countries.

The GCC NOCs heads also approved the calendar of sports tournaments for the next five years, represented by the first GCC Sports Games for juniors and youth, which will be held in the United Arab Emirates next year, and the GCC Sports Tournament and indoor games, which is scheduled to be held in 2024 in Saudi Arabia. In addition to the Games, the GCC Beach Games in Oman in 2025, the fourth GCC Sports Games that will be held in Qatar in 2026, and the third GCC Sports Games for Beach Games in Bahrain in 2027. It was approved to organise a combined club tournament for league champions for group games, provided that the General Secretariat coordinates with the GCC NOCs in this regard.

It was also agreed to add a new article related to opening the way for the participation of countries outside the framework of GCC in courses, events, sporting activities, and others in the internal regulations and the regulations for joint work in the sports field. This comes in the implementation of the royal directives issued by the Supreme Council regarding enhancing cooperation and partnerships with international organizations active in the sports field.