Post by : Bianca
Haleem
His Highness Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of the UAE Olympic Committee, was present at the opening ceremony of the 4th GCC Games held in Doha, Qatar, on Sunday.
This tournament, featuring athletes from Gulf Cooperation Council nations, is taking place in Qatar from May 11 to May 22, 2026.
The UAE team consists of 164 athletes competing in 17 different sports, including both individual and team events. This group includes 115 male and 49 female athletes.
During his speech at the opening ceremony, Sheikh Mansoor emphasized the role of sports in fostering unity among Gulf nations. He expressed pride in the UAE's participation and commended the country's athletes for embodying the aspirations of the nation and the leadership's commitment to sports development.
He extended best wishes for success to all teams and applauded Qatar for its excellent track record in hosting significant sporting events that highlight the Gulf region on a global stage.
Sheikh Mansoor’s delegation included notable figures such as His Excellency Dr. Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi, the Minister of Sports and Vice President of the UAE Olympic Committee, along with His Excellency Faris Mohammed Al Mutawa, His Excellency Ghanem Mubarak Al Hajeri, and His Excellency Rashid Abdulrahman Al Ali.
Upon their arrival in Doha, the UAE delegation was welcomed by His Excellency Jassim bin Rashid Al Buainain.
The opening ceremony took place at Al Shaqab Indoor Arena, and featured cultural displays honoring Qatari and Gulf heritage, alongside an operetta called “One Gulf... One Heart.”
During the ceremony, the UAE flag was carried by Sheikh Ali Jamal bin Nasser Al Nuaimi, representing the UAE equestrian team, and Shouq Al Hammadi, from the UAE taekwondo team.
The UAE athletes are competing in table tennis, equestrian, swimming, bowling, billiards, boxing, fencing, shooting, 3x3 basketball, taekwondo, athletics, handball, snooker, volleyball, archery, padel tennis, and karate.
Events will take place across 10 different venues in Doha, such as Aspire Dome, Qatar Sports Club, Lusail Shooting Range, Qatar Bowling Federation Hall, and Duhail Sports Hall.
The GCC Games were initially held in Bahrain in 2011, where the UAE secured fourth place with 26 medals. The UAE's best performance came in the 2015 edition in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, where they finished second with 73 medals. In the 2022 Games in Kuwait, the UAE placed third with 50 medals.
The UAE volleyball team is set to start its campaign against Qatar on May 16, followed by matches against Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Oman in a round-robin style. The handball team will kick off their competition against Saudi Arabia on May 15.
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