Sheikh Joaan stresses Qatar's commitment to supporting refugee athletes, promoting sport as tool for peace
LAUSANNE: President of the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) and Board Member in the Olympic Refuge Foundation (ORF) HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani reaffirmed QOC's deep commitment to supporting refugee athletes and promoting sport as a tool for peace and social cohesion.
This came during his participation in the ORF's Annual Board Meeting at the Olympic House in Lausanne, Switzerland, on Monday, where he emphasized the importance of Olympic partnerships in broadening the humanitarian impact of sport across the globe.
The meeting took place on the sidelines of the Olympism365 – Sport for a Better World Summit, hosted by the International Olympic Committee to strengthen the role of sport in advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Sheikh Joaan further noted that the State of Qatar's experience in leveraging sport to support humanitarian causes offers a practical model that can be expanded and enhanced. His Excellency reiterated QOC's readiness to continue working with international partners to scale joint initiatives and create safe spaces where refugee children and youth can access sport and integrate meaningfully into their new communities.
President of the International Olympic Committee and Chair of the ORF Dr Thomas Bach chaired the meeting, in the attendance of prominent figures in the Olympic Movement, including HE United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi, alongside fellow ORF Board Members and international sporting organizations' representatives.
The meeting went over the ORF's 2024 Annual and Financial Reports, discussed the 2025 operational plan, and endorsed the Foundation's 2025–2030 strategic framework. The board also explored opportunities to expand sport-based programs for refugees and youth in host communities and adopted important decisions regarding the future of the Foundation's global initiatives.
Sheikh Joaan'sparticipation reflects the State of Qatar's commitment to support the ORF's efforts across strategic, financial, and operational dimensions, including hosting the Refugee Olympic Team ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Games.Qatar also has delivered targeted sports and humanitarian programs for displaced Palestinian and Afghan youth and hosted the ORF Board Meeting in Doha in April 2024.
The State of Qatar's initiatives and its continued support for the ORF have contributed to the implementation of 14 sports programs across 10 countries, providing thousands of young refugees with the opportunity to engage in sport within safe environments. These efforts have contributed to the development of essential life skills and have positioned sport as an effective tool for empowerment and social cohesion in host communities.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
ILoveQatar.net
3 days ago
- ILoveQatar.net
H.E. Prime Minister warns Israel that strikes on Iran threaten regional stability and global energy security
H.E. Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani received a phone call on 20 June 2025 from H.E. Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Norway Espen Barth Eide. During the phone call, they discussed cooperation relations between the two countries and ways to support and enhance them. They also discussed the latest developments in the region, particularly the Israeli attack on the territory of the sisterly Islamic Republic of Iran. In this context, H.E. Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs expressed the State of Qatar's condemnation of the repeated Israeli violations and attacks in the region, which undermine peace efforts and threaten to drag the region into a regional war. His Excellency emphasized the seriousness of Israel targeting economic facilities in Iran, warning of its disastrous regional and international repercussions, particularly for the stability of energy supplies. He also stressed the need to spare civilians the consequences of war and the commitment of both parties not to target civilian facilities. H.E. Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs emphasized the need for coordinated regional and international efforts to de-escalate tensions and resolve disputes through diplomatic means, affirming that the State of Qatar is actively working, in close cooperation with its partners, to revive dialogue among all parties in order to address outstanding issues and to promote regional as well as international peace and security.
ILoveQatar.net
3 days ago
- ILoveQatar.net
NBA superstar Kevin Durant joins Qatar Sports Investments, becomes PSG minority shareholder
Qatar Sports Investments, the majority owner of European Champions Paris Saint-Germain, has signed an investment and strategic partnership agreement with Kevin Durant, one of the most decorated US basketball players of all time and a leading investor in sports and entertainment properties. The deal will see Durant – via his media and investment arm Boardroom, with entrepreneur and long-time business partner Rich Kleiman – acquire a direct minority stake in the Club. In August 2024, Durant – the two-time NBA Champion, four-time Olympic gold medalist, MVP, and fifteen-time NBA All-Star – partnered with Paris Saint-Germain through Arctos Partners, a minority shareholder in the Club. Earlier this week, Qatar Sports Investments and Boardroom Sports Holdings – Durant's personal investment vehicle which holds stakes in a range of leading sports teams and leagues – signed a share purchase and strategic partnership agreement whereby Durant has become a direct minority shareholder in Paris Saint-Germain. As part of the relationship, Boardroom and Qatar Sports Investments will partner on a wide-series of commercial, investment, and content initiatives; and Durant will support the Club on its continued sports and business diversification and growth – including co-developing merchandise and original media content; advising on the Club's US and other international markets strategy; supporting PSG for Communities (the Club's charitable foundation and fundraising arm); and consulting on Paris Saint-Germain's multi-sport strategy including potential plans in basketball. Nasser Al-Khelaïfi, Chairman of Qatar Sports Investments said, 'QSI is pleased to welcome Kevin Durant as a direct shareholder in Paris Saint-Germain and strategic partner of our Group. We continually seek to elevate the Club and our broader portfolio through high-impact partnerships that bring strategic value, innovation, and global perspective. Together with Kevin, we look forward to developing ambitious initiatives that will drive the continued global growth of Paris Saint-Germain and QSI.' Kevin Durant said, 'It is an honour to partner with QSI and be a shareholder in Paris Saint-Germain – a Club and a city that is so close to my heart. This club has big plans ahead, and I can't wait to be a part of the next phase of growth; and to explore new investment opportunities with QSI.'
Qatar Tribune
5 days ago
- Qatar Tribune
QTTA chief challenges ITTF presidential election result
Tribune News Network Doha Qatar Table Tennis Association President Khalil bin Ahmed Al Mohannadi in a statement released has announced that he has taken legal steps to challenge the legitimacy of the recent fractious International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) election held last month for the presidency of the Olympic sport's international governing body. Al Mohannadi has filed an appeal before the (International Table Tennis Federation) tribunal and submitted a formal case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). He described the electoral process of the ITTF to have been rigged by 'serious violations' that undermine the principles of transparency and democracy. The ITTF failed to resolve the conflict following the controversial re-election of Sweden's Petra Sorling as its president, after she received 104 votes against her opponent Khalil Al Mohannadi's 102 which was marred by the number of online votes. Al Mohannadi expressed his deep gratitude to the national federations that supported his candidacy and expressed their clear objection to the irregularities that marred the voting process. He considered this support to represent 'a shared belief that the future of the game must be built on sound legal and institutional foundations.' International legal steps: Resorting to arbitration Al Mohannadi revealed that he had filed a formal appeal with the ITTF Arbitration Tribunal, in addition to filing a lawsuit with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). He emphasized that these steps came after submitting a formal complaint to the Nominations Committee, and within a clear legal framework stipulated by the ITTF Constitution and its electoral regulations. Alleged electoral violations The statement listed the most prominent of what it described as 'fundamental irregularities,' which includescCase:> 1. Accepting electronic votes despite the President of the General Assembly's announcement that voting would be paper-only, which it considered a 'clear violation of official directives.' 2. Registering federations on election day itself, exceeding the approved registration deadline. 3. Counting votes from federations that were not officially registered or had not been verified through the 'official roll call.' 4. Excluding the Nominations Committee, the sole body authorized to oversee the electoral process, which constitutes a violation of oversight and integrity procedures. Call to freeze electronic voting Al Mohannadi has called for a suspension of the use of electronic voting in all international federation elections, noting the need to establish technical and legal mechanisms to ensure accurate verification of each vote. He cited a similar precedent from the 2017 Dusseldorf elections, when proxy voting was annulled due to misuse, emphasizing that the current situation calls for a similar measure to preserve the legitimacy of the elections. Justice first Al Mohannadi has stressed that this is 'not just about an electoral outcome,' but rather a defence of 'the future of our sport and our international institutions.' He emphasized that the legal process will be pursued to the end to ensure justice and protect integrity of the sport. Election background The ITTF General Assembly, held on May 27, 2025, at the Sheraton Hotel in Doha, Qatar, witnessed a tense atmosphere after indications of tampering with the voting process final results raised widespread questions, particularly after irregularities were detected regarding the number of electronic votes compared to the official announcement during the attendance registration process. This was in addition to the registration of federations on election day itself, and the counting of votes not included in the roll call. These circumstances cast a shadow over the integrity of the elections and sparked widespread controversy within the game and among representatives of several national federations. Al Mohannadi's actions are expected to have significant repercussions in the global sports community, especially with the growing calls to review electoral systems of international sports bodies, enhance transparency, and combat what some consider 'political control over sports.'
