NOC News in Pictures

West Asia

OMAN Olympic Committee, represented by the Oman Sports and Active Society Committee, organised Olympic Day 2022 activities in Sur in cooperation with the Department of Culture, Sports and Youth on December 23. Activities included walking, beach soccer, beach volleyball, cycling and kayak. (www.ooc.om)

SAUDI Olympic and Paralympic Committee President HRH Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal hosted a number of leading international football officials and Olympic dignitaries at Saudi House on Doha Corniche on December 17 during the FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

(Saudi Press Agency)

LEBANESE Olympic Committee

President Pierre Jalkh felicitated members of the men’s basketball team on January 16 for qualifying for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 for the first time since 2010.

(Lebanese Olympic Committee)

YEMEN Olympic Committee

Secretary General Mohamed Abdullah Al-Ahjri held a send-off ceremony on December 18 for the women’s archery team heading for the Asia Cup tournament in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, where Paris 2024 Olympic quota places were on offer.

(@yemnoc)

West Asia

JORDAN Olympic Committee Secretary General Nasser Majali has been appointed Secretary General of the Islamic Solidarity Sports Federation, which is headed by HRH Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal, President of the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee. (JOC)

UAE Women’s Sports Federation organised a women’s sports summit with the aim of overseeing a better future for women's sport in the Emirates, in cooperation with women's sports associations. Several topics were discussed, including the role of NOCs and the media. (@uaenoc)

SYRIA NOC President Feras Mouala (right) welcomed Lebanese Olympic Committee Deputy President Sami Kiblawi in Damascus for discussions over sports exchange and cooperation. (Lebanese Olympic Committee)

PALESTINE Olympic Committee reports that the Olympic Medical Centre at the Joseph Blatter Academy conducted nutritional tests for the national under 20 women’s football team. Weight and BMI were monitored and nutritional advice was provided for each player. (POC)

IRAQ stressed that the National Olympic Committee was always keen to support its member sports associations as the Iraqi Tennis Federation signed a contract with Egyptian coach Mohamed Othman Zaki to train the national team.

QATAR Olympic Academy is conducting the 13th Advanced Sport Management Course for 20 trainees at the QOA HQ under the supervision of the IOC. The course consists of seven chapters and will run from January to September.

(QOC)

TAJIKISTAN NOC conducted a seminar under the OCA’s “Social Development Through Olympism and Education” Olympic Solidarity continental programme from November 28 to December 8. The seminar, which was run by the Athletes’ Committee of Tajikistan NOC, was attended by 18 female taekwondo athletes. The Athletes’ Committee is headed by London Olympic boxing bronze medalist Mavzuna Choriyeva. (olympic.tj)

KAZAKHSTAN NOC welcomed 2022 Wimbledon women’s singles tennis champion Yelena Rybakina to Almaty at the end of a long and successful season. In a special interview with Olympic.kz, Yelena said: “I am glad to be here, to communicate with you and to have the opportunity to conduct a small master class for our young tennis players. Winning Wimbledon is a dream that came true. I have three Grand Slams left to win, which is in my plans. These are my goals. I will try.” (Olympic.kz)

KYRGYZ Republic NOC was represented at the Olympic Solidarity/OCA Regional Forum in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in December by Project Manager Ainura Temiralieva, who said the forum enabled the NOCs to exchange information and experiences and enhanced networking, especially among her fellow Central Asia delegates. (OCA)

IRAN NOC President Mahmoud Khosravi Vafa says the team heading for the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China this September will focus on quality rather than quantity. “Iran will compete at the Asian Games with a smaller delegation than in 2018 but with athletes who have more chance of winning medals,” Khosravi Vafa told the Tehran Times. Iran fielded 378 athletes at Jakarta-Palembang 2018 and finished sixth with 20 gold medals, 20 silver and 22 bronze. (Tehran Times)

JUDO world champion Muzaffarbek Turoboyev and taekwondo world champion Svetlana Osipova (pictured) were crowned Male and Female Athlete of the Year, respectively, at the Uzbekistan National Sports Awards 2022. The ceremony was opened by the Minister of Sports Development, Adham Ikramov. (olympic.uz)

South Asia

SRI Lanka NOC President Suresh Subramaniam took part in the awards ceremony of the 8th Advanced Sport Management Course (2021-2022) at the Hemasiri Fernando Auditorium on December 16. Nineteen candidates from various sports associations and institutions received a Diploma in Management of Olympic Sport Organisations.

(@Olympic.LK)

MALDIVES Olympic Committee announced on December 23 that their athletes will compete in five major multi-sport events in 2023, including the OCA double of 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China and the 6th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in Bangkok and Chonburi province, Thailand.

(MOC)

INDIAN Olympic Association’s recently-elected President, track legend PT Usha, posted a personal message on social media to mark Republic Day.

“Our unity in diversity strengthens us. Wishing all my fellow Indians a very Happy Republic Day. Jai Hind.” (PT Usha Facebook)

BHUTAN Olympic Committee President HRH Prince Jigyel Ugyen Wangchuck graced the groundbreaking ceremony of the new Taekwondo Federation Iconic Building as part of the “Youth Development Project in Bhutan through Sports, Health and Value Education” initiative. The project, with a budget of USD 6.8 million, is funded by the Korean International Cooperation Agency.