Tashkent, January 26 (QNA) – HE President of the Qatar Olympic Committee and President of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al-Thani has affirmed the OCA’s commitment to serving all national Olympic committees in Asia and backing athletes through creating the best conditions for them to innovate and bring an honorable image of Asian sports.
Throughout the next period, the council will focus on creatively organizing tournaments through leveraging cutting-edge means and creating a perfect environment for all Asian athletes in order to showcase the best talent they have, HE Sheikh Joaan underlined.
He stressed the importance of keeping up with modern technologies in the sports sector, underscoring OCA’s commitment to operating in tandem with partners to invest all capabilities and energies in pursuit of advancing sports in Asia through keeping pace with scientific and technological advancements, particularly in terms of organization and administration.
Sheikh Joaan was speaking at a press conference on Monday following his election as the new president of OCA by acclamation during the 46th General Assembly of OCA convened in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, with the participation of over 350 sports officials from 45 Asian Olympic committees.
His Excellency expressed his pride in having him elected as president of this council, pledging to personally serve all 45 national Olympic committees with a spirit of transparency, resolve, and partnership.
Responding to a question from Qatar News Agency (QNA) about the OCA’s vision to boost governance and transparency in the Asian Olympic movement during the upcoming period, HE Sheikh Joaan said he highly prioritizes governance and focuses on perfectly managing resources through tremendously organizing upcoming tournaments, pursuing robust foundations of financial governance to earn profits that benefit the Olympic movement in Asia and serve national Olympic committees.
His Excellency underlined the OCA’s pursuit of forging long-standing relationships with all other entities, especially since the International Olympic Committee operates based on evident systems and foundations.
Keeping up with these systems and perfectly enforcing them matters most, since the council would be open to building partnerships with all stakeholders, institutions, and companies in a way that serves athletes’ interests, as well as the Olympic movement in Asia, Sheikh Joaan highlighted.
Sheikh Joaan suggested that having him in the upper echelon of this council aims to serve the 45 Olympic committees in Asia, asserting that supporting youth would be a priority for OCA, not only athletes but administrators as well, through mobilizing new talents in administering sports enterprises.
He recalled that Asian media outlets are incredibly fundamental partners in the Olympic movement; they are the ones who relay to the world the inspiring stories of outstanding Asian athletes and ensure the strength of sports echoes in every single corner of Asia.
Of course, when things are not going as they should be, or when there is a possibility to undertake better work, media professionals are the ones who monitor the OCA’s work, Sheikh Joaan pointed out, stating that he will always welcome their comments and feedback about methods of upgrading thought and advancing media operations to have far greater traction among the public.
The council is here to serve Asia, as well as national Olympic committees and their sports, with the best available capabilities, to provide a level of excellence equal to that which they provide every day, HE Sheikh Joaan outlined, stressing that he is not here to shine, because shining is the right of athletes and national Olympic committees.
Finally, Sheikh Joaan recalled that the OCA must materialize its work by itself. He indicated that the massive diversity in Asia cannot be seen as a challenge, but rather as an offered opportunity to evolve through sharply focusing on emerging markets that are increasingly growing.
However, he added, what matters most for Asia is to stand united as much as possible, with unanimity on the intended vision, as well as the required direction to move together.