Doha: In the presence of Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, President of the Olympic Council of Asia, President of the Qatar Olympic Committee, and Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the GCC Games – Doha 2026, the competitions of the GCC Games officially got underway this evening in the Qatari capital, Doha, with a distinguished Opening Ceremony held at Al Shaqab, reflecting the commitment of the GCC nations to supporting sport and hosting major sporting events.
The opening ceremony was attended by a number of Their Highnesses and Excellencies, Ministers, Presidents of the GCC Olympic committees, and senior sports officials, including Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal, President of the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee; Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of the UAE National Olympic Committee; Sheikh Fahad Nasser Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah, President of the Kuwait Olympic Committee; Sayyid Azzan bin Qais Al Said, President of the Oman Olympic Committee; and Sheikh Isa bin Ali Al Khalifa, Vice President of the Bahrain Olympic Committee, alongside a number of GCC sports leaders.
The ceremony was also attended by Dr. Thani bin Abdulrahman Al Kuwari, Second Vice President of the Qatar Olympic Committee; Jassim bin Rashid Al Buenain, Secretary General of the Qatar Olympic Committee and Vice Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the Games; and Sheikh Khalifa bin Khalid Al Thani, Director of the Sports Affairs Sector at the Qatar Olympic Committee and Director General of the Organizing Committee of the Games.
The Games will bring together 1400 athletes and officials where participating athletes will compete across 17 sports over 11 days of competition, in a new edition that further reinforces Qatar’s established reputation as a safe, welcoming and world-class host nation.
