DOHA : hosted a meeting on Saturday of heads of delegations taking part in the fourth Gulf Games, scheduled to be held in the Qatari capital from May 11 to 22, 2026, with elite athletes from Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries set to compete.
The meeting was attended by Sheikh Khalifa bin Khalid Al Thani, Director General of the Games’ Organising Committee, Mohammed Al-Subaie, Director of the Sports Department at the GCC General Secretariat, and heads of several organising committees.
Discussions focused on the latest developments in organisational preparations, including the readiness of working committees, logistical coordination plans, procedures at competition and training venues, and mechanisms for issuing accreditation and identification cards for athletes and delegation officials.
Participants also reviewed technical matters related to competition schedules, athlete registration programmes and the allocation of teams across venues, with an emphasis on ensuring smooth operations in line with high organisational standards. Potential challenges and ways to address them were also discussed to ensure preparations remain on schedule.
Delegations are due to conduct site visits on Monday to several venues designated to host the Games, to assess their readiness and review infrastructure and support services to be provided during the tournament.
The fourth edition of the Gulf Games will feature more than 2,000 male and female athletes competing in 20 sports, including athletics, handball, swimming, volleyball, basketball (5×5 and 3×3), fencing, wrestling, boxing, taekwondo, karate, squash, padel, table tennis, billiards, snooker, shooting, archery, equestrian and bowling.
Competitions will be staged across 10 venues, including Aspire Dome, Qatar Sports Club, Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex, Lusail Shooting Range and the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club.
“Our meeting today marks an important milestone in the preparation and organisation of this Gulf tournament,” Sheikh Khalifa said, describing the Games as a platform that reflects the spirit of brotherhood, cooperation and fair competition among GCC nations.
He added that the organising committee was fully committed to delivering the highest organisational and technical standards in close coordination with participating delegations.
Al-Subaie said the meeting was a key step in coordinating efforts to ensure the success of the tournament.
“The Gulf Games are an important pillar for strengthening sports cooperation among GCC countries, promoting the values of brotherhood and fair competition, and supporting the development of Gulf youth,” he said.
